Uninvited Visitor

We found an uninvited visitor in our schoolroom, a cave cricket (a.k.a. camel cricket, spider cricket).

Since this ugly little creature entered our schoolroom we of course had to find out more information about him.

Cave crickets belong to the Family Rhaphidophoridae. As their name implies, these crickets are commonly found in caves, although some species also dwell in cool, damp areas such as beneath rotten logs, damp leaves and stones or in our case basements. Cave crickets are wingless, brown in color and can measure up to one inch in length. They have large hind legs and a set of long antennae, which serve as guides through their darkened environments. The cave cricket's long limbs enable them to jump high and very far. There bodies are bent forward and appear to be humped at the back. Many cave cricket species live without sufficient food sources (lovely!).

Maybe if we find another one we can have a cave cricket jumping contest.