Dec 14, 2006

Potato Bugs Are Evil

You'll find everything you hate in an insect in the potato bug. You're afraid to lift that cardboard box that's been sitting outside for too long, because there might be a potato bug lurking beneath it. You're afraid to empty your pool skimmer, because there might be a potato bug bobbing in the water. They're huge and armed with spike hind legs that they thrash you with if you pick them up.

They're also known as the Jerusalem Cricket, with is a more charming name. But don't let that fool you. They're evil. Their natural predators include birds and rodents. This is one of the few times that I am truly thankful for the rats that infest the ivy in my backyard.

Photo courtesy: PotatoBugs.com

8 comments:

Maggie said...

ack! that's not what *I* call a potato bug! I mean the little cute gray doodlebugs that curl up in a ball! That thing is icky...reminds me of what my family calls "hoppy bugs"--I think the official term is mole cricket. Ick.

Raging Wombat said...

Holy cow, mole crickets are disgusting. Thanks for the heads-up. Different from the potato bug, but disgusting nonetheless.

Anonymous said...

Salon had a great article some years back on one man's encounter with potato bugs--classic!

Raging Wombat said...

Wow, that is a disgusting article. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

ok. I once and only once, saw one of these things...and you know, it was very creepy because the one i saw was a little paler in the face, had eyes that open and shut, and had facial expressions..Like a friggen smile!!!!! What the hell do you call that!!!!??

Anonymous said...

I found one of these ugly, ugly things in my closet . It totally freaked me out! I could hear it chewing during the night and could never figure out what it was,but it was this thing when I finally waited up and caught it. Totally sent the heebie jeebies running through me that night for sure.

Unknown said...

these things look like they just crawled out of a sewer. I usually find them when they are dead and they wot hurt you they have no defense except there ugly face that scares everything

Lyn said...

awww. I think they're so cute