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Any idea what this creature is?

5 years ago

My granddaughter snapped this picture in Florida. She didn't know what it was, and neither do I. I asked if it was insect sized, and she replied, "It's pretty big." I'm trying to pin her down to a more specific size, but meanwhile, does it look familiar to anyone?

Featured Answer

kadefol

5 years ago

It is a mole cricket!

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Comments (21)

Alisande
Original Author
5 years ago
Wow--that was fast! Thanks, Kadefol. They certainly are exotic looking. My granddaughter will be grateful too!
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OMG, now what??!!!
Q
Comments (8)
Can't tell how big they are but found this on the net. Kinda looks like it to me. But these may be to large. IF it is these then I would say from what I read that you had an egg sack someplace near there and it hatched to have that many in one place. I found this on another site. "If you have a hammerhead flatworm infestation, there are several ways to control and/or kill populations. The first thing to keep in mind is if you attempt to chop them up or even smash them, the pieces will only regenerate into new hammerhead flatworms. So, it you chop the flatworm into 7 pieces, you will end up with 7 new worms! Hammerhead flatworms must dissolve completely in order to get rid of them. Effective treatment methods include: salt, vinegar, and citrus oil. These products must be applied directly to the flatworms in order to be effective. Spreading them around the soil or areas where you the worms have been spotted wonÃ¯Â¿Â½t dissolve these parasites completely. You can use a spray bottle for the vinegar and citrus oil methods and you can simply pour the salt over the worms to dissolve them." So I would do that with the ones you vacuumed up. They eat earth worms. The picture it kinda fuzzy. The original was clearer but I had to save the image as I found it on a certain garden website that I found is not allowed to be mentioned here anymore. So this is the best I could do.
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Any this lovely creature? What say You?
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Check out narrow-leaved spleenwort, Athyrim pycnocarpum.
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Weird, stinging larva?
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Comments (4)
Let's narrow it down a little bit better. Would you say that this creature is more like a grub, a caterpillar, or something else entirely? Did you notice any legs, antennae, or other appendages? Hairs or spines? Was the skin soft or shell-like?
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What are these evil creatures killing my dahlias?
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Comments (5)
Omgosh, U have sprouts!! If I were u , I would Cut the rotting parts of the tubers out & get some root stimulator. Bonide root & grow or Fertilome root stimulator are the bomb! Without it I wouldn't have as many plants as I do now it's a plant savor! U can Pot up the sprouts w/ what's left of the tuber ( after cutting out the mushy stuff) into a light organic potting Mix & water well w/root stimulator ( follow directions on back) I planted 42 tubers this year - out of 42 , 4 of them rotted -lucky ducky barely had ANY tuber left but I was able to save them all bc of the root stimulator:) :) while the remaining good parts of the tuber slowly start to rot again - I'm guessing- it fed the sprouts until they were able to grow new roots. After a week & half or so - I went & carefully dug up the sprouts to see that the rest of the tuber rotted around the sprout but the sprouts grew their own roots- whoopie!! I was able to save jens wedding, lucky ducky, new dimension & blue bayou by doing this :) if it's really hot right now where u live, I would keep them in shady spot until they root. I also used smaller pots so I didn't rot the remaining parts of the tuber faster than it could grow roots & so I could also keep an eye on the water saturation, ect.. good luck ! :) :) :)
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kadefol
5 years ago
You are welcome! Strange looking critters, they are. :)
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Yowza!! That looks a little too big and little too creepy for my tastes!! Glad we do not have such large, ferocious looking insects like that here. Monster slugs are bad enough....the Pacific banana slug here can extend to 8-9 inches but doesn't look like it will bite your finger off!!
DawnInCal
5 years ago
It looks like two bugs morphed into one! Creepy!
quasifish
5 years ago
Oh yuck! I remember those from when we lived near the ocean in Central CA. Even after 4 years, I never got use them- and I like many bugs!
socks
5 years ago
Gardengal…..I saw those once when visiting an camping site when in Washington years ago, all over the grass. At first I thought people weren't picking up after their dogs, they are so big! Bring in the ducks for a feast!
nicole___
5 years ago
It's missing it's front "paws". Check THIS out. waving it's paws
Alisande
Original Author
5 years ago
Yikes, Nicole! Despite the bitter cold here today, I look at that and do not wish I were in Florida. :-)
pudgeder
5 years ago
They make great fishing bait. :D
OutsidePlaying
5 years ago
Y’all can just keep these down in Florida! We don’t need any more pests up this way. Thanks for identifying though. An interesting bug.
Iris S (SC, Zone 7b)
5 years ago
Actually, I think it is kind of cute. In a weird way.
skibby (zone 4 Vermont)
5 years ago
Wow, that is really cool! It looks like the "platypus" of the insect world. I had to look it up. Here's some info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_cricket
Ava
5 years ago
If, I saw that, I would probably run for the hills.
Jakkom Katsu
5 years ago
With or without paws, that's a wowzer of a bug!!
Elmer J Fudd
5 years ago
According to Wikipedia, they can be found all over North America but live underground, are nocturnal and not frequently seen. I've never seen one. What a hideous looking bug.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
5 years ago
They aren't as big as the picture and the video would lead us to believe. The largest that I've ever seen wasn't even an inch and a half. But they sure are exotic looking, I agree. You wouldn't believe the damage they can cause to a pretty lawn or pristine golf green!
jemdandy
5 years ago
It has 6 legs classifying it as an insect. One of its 2 front legs extends under its head. One leg is in view and the edge of the other is barely visible.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
5 years ago
Yes, jemdandy, mole crickets are insects.
jemdandy
5 years ago
Mole Cricket via Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_cricket

Mole crickets are not native to Florida and are considered pests in Florida. They have been used for food in some parts of the world.
Annie Deighnaugh
5 years ago
I freaked out the first time I saw one here...it was sooo gross. I've seen one twice now. I never saw them as a kid so I figure they're moving north with global warming.

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