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Hey Ceruleanwildfire-- It does but the colours are a bit striking I thought. Is this a characteristic of juveniles ? Or is this some sub-species possibly? If it is then I dont remember seeing one quite that vivid before but maybe I havent been spending enough time on that side of the country!

I am presuming these are Armoured Ground Crickets seen in Feb this year on the S63.

Large

Large

Saw this on the way back from Addo park, took it home to photograph, and returned it later to the gravel road teh next night (same place)

A really spiney one..!

They are really ugly.

On our last summer trip to Kruger we stayed in BnD and one evening I witnessed something strange. An Armoured Ground Cricket managed to enter our bungalow one evening and my sister spotted it She promptly started to spray it with Doom (insect killer). The AGC started to scream just like the common little black cricket but not "creek creek creek", more like a continues creeeeeek, and double the volume of a black cricket. The more she sprayed it, the louder it screamed. Unfortunately I was busy outside because I would have removed it. In really felt sorry for the poor thing but my sister thought otherwise.

Has anybody had a similar experience?

My sister always think otherwise.

for those who love these delightful critters......

david such a great pic!!


I also saw thousands of htem crossing the road between Shingwedzi and Pafuri with the Eastern & Western Red Footed Kestrels feasting on them. Also in the Kalalhari in huge numbers and there are plenty in the fynbos.

We have a lot of them ugly critters up here as well, and yes, they do "scream"

Hi Guys

Here is a good One I took somewhere between Punda and Shingwedzi... I cannot say exactly where.
I think its the same thing...



It was massive! I would guess with its legspan included about the size of a large teacup saucer.

And they taste real well, if roasted to perfection.

Thats just wrong man....wrongwrongwrong....
...but the spines on the back are useful for scratching your throat if its a bit itchy.... And a rear leg makes a fine toothpick