Wow--that was fast! Thanks, Kadefol. They certainly are exotic looking. My granddaughter will be grateful too!

You are welcome! Strange looking critters, they are. :)

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!!

It looks like two bugs morphed into one! Creepy!

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!

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!

It's missing it's front "paws". Check THIS out. waving it's paws

Yikes, Nicole! Despite the bitter cold here today, I look at that and do not wish I were in Florida. :-)

They make great fishing bait. :D

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.

Actually, I think it is kind of cute. In a weird way.

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

If, I saw that, I would probably run for the hills.

With or without paws, that's a wowzer of a bug!!

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.

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!

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.

Yes, jemdandy, mole crickets are insects.

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.

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.