Kelso Dunes Giant Sand-treader Cricket

Macrobaenetes kelsoensis

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Infraorder: Tettigoniidea
Family: Rhaphidophoridae
Subfamily: Ceuthophilinae
Genus: Macrobaenetes
Species: kelsoensis

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Macrobaenetes kelsoensis: /ˌmækrəˈbeɪnətiːz kɛlˈsoʊˌɛnsɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Macrobaenetes kelsoensis by Eric Koberle. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Summary

Macrobaenetes kelsoensis, known as the Kelso Dunes Giant Sand-treader Cricket, is a large cricket species endemic to the Kelso Dunes in the Mojave Desert, California. It lives in burrows and primarily feeds on organic material and other small creatures found in its sandy habitat. The species was first described by Tinkham in 1962.

Physical Characteristics

Endemic to California; known for its large size compared to other species in the genus Macrobaenetes.

Identification Tips

Distinguished by its size, burrowing behavior, and habitat preference in sand dunes. Males have straighter hind tibiae compared to similar species.

Habitat

Burrows in sand dunes, specifically in the Mojave Desert.

Distribution

Endemic to the Kelso Dune field in San Bernardino County, California.

Diet

Omnivorous with opportunistic carnivorous tendencies.

Life Cycle

Overwinters as nymphs; adults emerge in spring and typically are mostly absent by the end of June.

Ecosystem Role

Helps in aerating sandy soils and possibly in nutrient cycling within its habitat.