Jerusalem Cricket Crossword Puzzle

Jerusalem Crickets
Crossword Puzzle Pre-Reading
DESCRIPTION
These are large insects, reaching up to 2 inches in body
length. Bodies, head and legs are brownish in color. The
body is loosely “antlike,” having a waist
that is constricted.
The head is the defining
feature, though. Heads
of Jerusalem Crickets
are large, globose,
smooth and shiny with
a
pair of dark, beady
Heads are large, globose, smooth and shiny
with a pair of dark, beady eyes. (Photo
eyes. There are no
BIOLOGY
Courtesy of Joan Geary).
Jerusalem Crickets (order Orthoptera, family
Stenopelmatidae) are also known as Potato Bugs. The
Spanish name is “Nina de la Tierra” or “Daughter of the
Earth.” Some Native Americans called this insect “Wohtzi-Neh,” meaning “old bald-headed man.” These insects
are subterranean and feed primarily on roots, tubers and
vegetables; but will also feed on meats and other insects.
They are generally considered to be plant-feeding
(phytophagous).
Mysticism surrounds these insects for some Native
Americans. Some coming across them see the experience
as an omen - and they look for other spiritual signs.
Jerusalem Crickets are, more simply, relatives of crickets
and grasshoppers. They come above ground only at night
or due to some disturbance in the environment. They can
be found in the earth beneath ground debris.
Jerusalem Crickets are harmless. They do not have poison
or a stinger. When confronted they would rather burrow,
hide or play dead. As a last resort they may flip onto
their backs, present their spiny legs and offer a nip from
a pair of strong, sharp mandibles.
DEVELOPMENT
Young are smaller versions (nymphs) of the
adult. Nymph playing dead.
Females nest below
ground and line a
chamber with a paperlike material. Eggs are
whitish, oval and about
3 mm in diameter.
Nymphs are smaller
versions of the adult.
setae (hairs). Some
compare the head to a
human skull. Antennae
are very long and thin
(filiform).
Mouthparts include a
pair of large mandibles
used to chew and
defend the insect Jerusalem Crickets prefer to burrow rather
than fight. (Photo courtesy of Doug Ronald).
against predators.
Abdomens are black, with segments of lighter striping.
Legs are robust, spined and adapted for digging.
Like cricket relatives, the Jerusalem Cricket may produce
sound (stridulate) by
rubbing its hindlegs
against its abdomen.
Spines on the hindlegs
have differing lengths
and arrangements and
are helpful fo identifying
the different species.
Arrangements and lengths of spines on
hindlegs help identify this insect to species.
Males are larger than
females.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
California Insects. Powell, Jerry A. and Charles Hogue. University of California, Berkeley.
1979.
The Jerusalem Cricket - University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension. Johnson,
Wayne S. and Jeff Knight. Fact Sheet 99-35.
Copyright © 2012 Insect Sciences Museum of California.
Jerusalem Crickets
Crossword Puzzle - Teacher’s Solution Sheet
ACROSS
1. Mouthparts used for chewing or biting.
5. Nest section where Jerusalem Crickets lay
eggs.
6. The threat level posed by Jerusalem Crickets.
9. The color of Jerusalem Cricket eggs.
11. The general color of the Jerusalem Cricket.
13. Hairs
14. The defining feature in recognizing Jerusalem
Crickets.
15. Describes very long and thin antennae.
16. Shaped like a globe.
DOWN
2. Describes the habitat of Jerusalem crickets.
3. What this insect may do to evade a predator.
4. To produce sound by rubbing; singing.
7. What Jerusalem crickets legs are armed with.
8. Plant-feeding.
10. Spiritualism.
12. The back pair of legs in insects.
Notes:
Copyright © 2012 Insect Sciences Museum of California
Jerusalem Crickets
Crossword Puzzle - Student Sheet
ACROSS
1. Mouthparts used for chewing or biting.
5. Nest section where Jerusalem Crickets lay
eggs.
6. The threat level posed by Jerusalem Crickets.
9. The color of Jerusalem Cricket eggs.
11. The general color of the Jerusalem Cricket.
13. Hairs
14. The defining feature in recognizing Jerusalem
Crickets.
15. Describes very long and thin antennae.
16. Shaped like a globe.
DOWN
2. Describes the habitat of Jerusalem crickets.
3. What this insect may do to evade a predator.
4. To produce sound by rubbing; singing.
7. What Jerusalem crickets legs are armed with.
8. Plant-feeding.
10. Spiritualism.
12. The back pair of legs in insects.
Teacher’s Comments / Grade:
Copyright © 2012 Insect Sciences Museum of California
Jerusalem Cricket Word Search
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BROWNISH
BURROW
CHAMBER
FILIFORM
GLOBOSE
HARMLESS
HEAD
HINDLEGS
MANDIBLES
MYSTICISM
PHYTOPHAGOUS
SETAE
SPINES
STRIDULATE
SUBTERRANEAN
WHITISH
Jerusalem Crickets
Curriculum Matrix
CONCEPT
PROCESS / PERFORMANCE
K
Living things can be described
and distinguished from each
other.
Students will observe, compare,
and describe animals.
1
Living things have basic needs
that must be met in order to
sustain life.
Students begin to observe a
variety of ways that living things
have their needs met.
2
Life cycles include birth,
growth, reproduction, and
death.
Students observe, describe, and
record changes in an organism’s
development.
3
Living things have systems to
sustain life such as the
skeletal, circulatory, and
respiratory systems.
Students will understand that an
animal has systems that sustain
life.
4
The behavior of living things is
related to their environment.
Students will observe, record,
and describe interactions of living
things with other living things.
5
Living things depend on their
environment.
Students will observe and
describe the habitats of living
organisms.
Copyright © 2012 Insect Sciences Museum of California