CLOSED: Unidentified Interloper

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AdinaInNY South Salem, NY Aug 04, 2010

Hi. I recently moved into a barn in the middle of the woods in Westchester New York. This guy (or girl?) wandered into my kitchen over the weekend. It was HUGE -probably about 4 inches from end spike to antennae tip (photo cut off the end of the antennae -sorry). Any idea what s/he is? I'm guessing some type of cricket or grasshopper, but I don't really know much about bugs. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
adina
ps - Is there any reason I should be concerned about it? I have lost track of it - it is presumably somewhere in my barn apartment.

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Post #8017522
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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Aug 04, 2010

This is a wingless relative of grasshoppers and crickets (order Orthoptera) in the family Rhaphidophoridae - see . Commonly known as camel crickets or cave crickets, they prefer damp, dark environments (such as caves, basements, etc.), and can be nuisance pests when they occur indoors. Yours is a female; the sharp object at the end of its abdomen is its ovipositor (egg-laying tool).

Post #8017620
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AdinaInNY South Salem, NY Aug 06, 2010

Thank you Suunto! Much appreciated!
adina

Post #8023039
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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Aug 06, 2010

You're welcome, but I see that the image I had intended to include as an example never made it into my initial reply - here it is - http://tinyurl.com/2ctw36m

Post #8023092
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