The Jerusalem cricket or potato bug belongs to the genus Stenopelmatus and is is one of the largest native insects in southern California, often exceeding two inches (50 mm) in length. It is not native to Jerusalem. It belongs to the Order Orthoptera along with grasshoppers, katydids and true crickets. This cricket relative is actually capable of making a rudimentary sound by rubbing the inner surface of its hind leg against short spines projecting from the side of its abdomen. Because of its large, bald "baby face," it is also known as "child of the earth" or "ñina de la tierra." Its large size and humanoid head has caused this insect to be the object of superstition and fear by some southwestern and Mexican Indians. Navajo people call it "woh-seh-tsinni," which means "old bald-headed man." Although the strong mandibles can inflict a painful bite, Jerusalem crickets are not poisonous. With their strong legs and chewing jaws, they burrow into the soil and feed primarily on roots and tubers, particularly decaying vegetable matter. They may also feed on dead insects and debris, and may be predatory at times. Although they may occasionally chew on potatoes, they are not a serious crop pest like the true potato beetle. Sometimes they come out of the ground at night and wander around houses. These curious insects are harmless and should not be killed. Please allow them to crawl into a container and let them go free in your garden.

Tree crickets belong to the genus Oecanthus in the family Gryllidae. Unlike the larger, black ground crickets that occasionally enter houses, these are small brownish or greenish crickets only 13 mm long (1/2 inch) that live among the leaves of trees and shrubs. On warm summer evenings in southern California, they make the familiar chirping sound that fills the night air, as males rub their wings together to attract females. The "song" is produced by frictional movements of roughened veins at the bases of the forewings. Each species has its own characteristic song. The song of O. fultoni and O. rileyi consists of a pulsed, high pitched "treet-treet-treet," while the song of O. californicus and O. argentatus is a continuos trill. The male featured in the following images is one of the latter two species. The audible volume produced by such small insect is remarkable. In fact, it is very difficult to spot the male making this loud sound even when you are standing near its shrub with a flashlight. Like many other animals, the chirping is a prelude to courtship and mating.

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