Potato-bug

Guides

• Ammopelmatus

  Jerusalem crickets, potato bugs, North American Jerusalem Crickets

  Ammopelmatus is a genus of large, flightless crickets in the family Stenopelmatidae, commonly known as Jerusalem crickets or potato bugs. The genus was erected by Tinkham in 1965 and underwent massive taxonomic revision in 2025, expanding from 12 recognized species to 117 valid species across the western United States and northwestern Mexico. These insects are among the largest in western North America, with some adults exceeding 12 grams. The genus exhibits exceptional species diversity concentrated in Southern and Central California, with most species having limited geographic distributions.

  OrthopteraStenopelmatidaeJerusalem-cricketpotato-bugflightlessnocturnaldrumming-communicationwestern-North-AmericaCalifornia-biodiversity2025-taxonomic-revisionsoil-arthropodbird-prey