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Mole cricket


Mole cricket
Photo Information
Copyright: Jose Rodriguez (jmp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1740 W: 95 N: 2273] (8411)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-02
Categories: Insects
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-04-20 4:26
Viewed: 1155
Points: 57
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Today’s underground designed creature was found by a friend in Aracena mountains (Andalusia). He asked to me to post it to find out what kind of beauty it was, being informed about TN’s member high level of knowledge. Now we know it is a mole cricket, but anyway we decided to post it as a high contrast sample of how Nature works in the visible surface (flowers, butterflies, leopards, eagles...) and in the underground, nocturnal world.

I hope you will enjoy with this wonderful animal.
Here you have an excellent view of the head

Mole cricket

The mole crickets compose a family, Gryllotalpidae, of thick-bodied insects about 3-5 cm (1-2 inches) long, with large beady eyes and shovel-like forelimbs highly developed for burrowing and swimming. They can also fly—the adult mole cricket may fly as far as 8 kilometers (approximately 5 miles) during mating season, is active most of the year, and spends the winter in hibernation.
Mole crickets are omnivores, feeding on grubs, worms, roots, and grasses. Common predators of mole crickets include birds, rats, skunks, armadillos, raccoons and foxes.
Mole crickets are relatively common, but because they are nocturnal and spend nearly all their lives underground in extensive tunnel systems, they are rarely seen. They inhabit agricultural fields, lawns and golf courses. They are present in every continent with the exception of Antarctica, and are commonly considered pests. In Asia, however, they are sometimes used as food (fried), and are considered quite delicious.
In certain parts of the globe, mole cricket numbers are declining due to soil erosion and habitat destruction

Ref. Wikipedia
JORAPAVI, cicindela, methos, Alex99, jcoowanitwong, Argus, peter_stoeckl, SkyF, JoseMiguel, Maite, Silvio2006, ramthakur, Juyona, XOTAELE, anel, Adanac, ridvan, mikou, oscarromulus, vanderschelden has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To carper: More details ...jmp 1 05-01 15:30
To Argus: Underground singing?jmp 1 04-20 16:39
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Critiques [Translate]

Hola José,
Curioso grillo, tiene ojillos de avispado mirando la camara o al fotografo,gran nitidez y buenos detalles capturados. Buen documento y excelente nota. Saludos
José Ramón

Hello my Friend!
This is probably one of the most enigmatic Orthoptera species living in Europe and thanks for showing it! :) Nice details, natural BG and very interesting note!
I really like this presentation :)
Best greetings from Lodz,
Radomir

Hi Jose,
I have never seen this species spontaneously above ground. Nice details and natural colors.
I like their song in spring/summer warm nights.
Nice post!
TFS!

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3584 W: 143 N: 5669] (18531)
  • [2007-04-20 5:03]

Hi Jose.
You managed to create a really 3D-image. Wonderful, clear and rich colours and terrific details/sharpness if the image. The pictured scene and POV are funny enough. Bravo. Superb done nice picture. My compliments and TFS.
Alexei.

Hi Jose,
Nice on stranger from underground world. Great sharpness and well exposed picture. I like this pov and composition. Also thanks for informative note.
JC

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3808 W: 190 N: 11328] (34927)
  • [2007-04-20 7:58]
  • [+]

Hello José,
I have wanted to photograph a Mole Cricket for years but have never managed it.
So it is extra nice to see this fine capture in its natural habitat. Sharp and well presented, all you need is a sound track to go with it!
TFS and have a nice weekend!
Ivan

Hello José,
most exciting, most impressing!
Marvellous details under low light conditions.
Most beautiful subtle colours.
And I very much like the gentle curve of motion in that composition, showing the mole cricket trying to escape into the Andalusian underground.
Very well done to show it to the world before.
Thank you! My best regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2007-04-20 8:41]

Hi Jose,
this is different, I don't think I seen one of those before. Very interesting and the POV allows an excellent view of its details.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Sky

Hola José Miguel,
Un grillo un tanto especial para esta presentación!
Muy interesante su forma, al igual que la detallada información que nos das en tu notas.
Me gusta la inclusión de las hojitas verdes en la foto, le dan una riqueza visual en cuanto a color a la foto, además de ponernos en el contexto de la naturaleza.
Enhorabuena y gracias por mostrarlo.
Un gran saludo,
JM

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 449 W: 6 N: 310] (898)
  • [2007-04-20 11:08]

Hello Jose,
Interesting species. Looks bigger than 5 cm. Photo itself is excellent with good composition and perspective. Well-seen and captured. Regards,
Hakan

Buen enfoque que permite ver todo el cuerpo del insecto. Creo que llega a ser tb una plaga, sobre todo en cultivos hotícolas jeje. Yo trabajo con productos fitosanitarios ( si lee esto alguno ya veremos, tenemos muy mala prensa y eso que nos aprieta la legislación más q a nadie ...)por lo que lo combatíamos ...
Abrazo desde Lleida y síguenos mandando fotos tan interesantes. Yo llevo ya 3 semanas de "mono" al tener la cámara KO.

Hi Jose Rodriguez, wonderful criket with splendid details, very well done, have a great week end, ciao Silvio

Hello Jose,
I have seen this denizen of the underground world for the first time and it is truly amazing. It has a curious anatomy and I am especially fascinated by that oval part of its body just behind the head.
The picture is very sharp and clear.
One can't expect less than that from you.
Thanks and take care.
Ram

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2261 W: 10 N: 2629] (15559)
  • [2007-04-20 17:47]

Hola José,
un bichito algo raro,
nitidez y detalles sorprendentes...
saludos amigo.

Hola José.
Muy nitidos los detalles de este grillo, de color más claro que los que he visto por aquí que suelen ser negros.
Buena captura.
Un cordial saludo, JL.

  • Good 
  • Rafa Gold Star Critiquer [C: 120 W: 0 N: 7] (706)
  • [2007-04-21 7:23]

wau!! precioso Grillotopo, admirable he indispensable insecto en la cadena trófica de nuestra fauna.

Enorabuena, gracias por la foto y un abrazo.

Rafa

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266] (5195)
  • [2007-04-21 14:31]

Extraño bichejo, brrr! Pero muy interesante la foto junto con la nota informativa. Excelente calidad fotográfica, como en todos tus trabajos. Da gusto.
Felicidades, Jose.
Un cordial saludo
Maite

Hola Jose,
Looks like the mole cricket - or something - has been munching on the plantain! I cannot believe that your plantain is already this far advanced!

Very interesting shot of this cricket. I have never seen such a creature. Much obliged that you shared it! How many eyes does it have?

The markings are outstanding! Tfs, J.

Hello Jose a very detailed shot well spotted and nicely noted also tfs rgds Necip.

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2007-04-24 23:02]

Hola Jose,
Excellent image with great sharpness, color and composition.
This sounds like a very exciting find and the capture is superb.
Rick

Hello Jose, :)

Amazing how you can take a creature that I see in my yard on a weekly basis, and show it off in such a splendid way! I have a new found respect for them. Well composed with wonderful sharpness and POV! Take care my friend.

Ange

  • Great 
  • ridvan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 555 W: 0 N: 1134] (5196)
  • [2007-04-25 11:04]

selam jose; nice close up shot of this mole cricket. very good POV well done TFS
All the best
Ridvan

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 840 W: 67 N: 1311] (5269)
  • [2007-04-25 14:04]

Hi Jose.
This is really beautiful capture of this very interesting insect.I like very good details and nice natural colors.Well done.TFS this picture and for very informative note too.
Best greetings Milos.

Hola Jose, vaya captura del gritotopo (alcaran cebollero), tiene una calidad fantástica. Yo pude fotografiar uno hace poco, de noche mientras sacaba el celo de las ranas meridionales. Perdona por mi falta de participación, pero con el trabajo no saco tiempo para nada, aunque ya he visto tus nuevas aportaciones y me encantan. Un abrazo.

José Luis

I have never seen this one before, thanks for showing us, the details are nice and the shot is well taken good quality, well seen and good capture here, well done.
gr. jaap

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-05-01 20:11]

Hello Jose

Excellent POV and DOF.The focus and details are sharp.Very nicely composed in the frame.Very natural colour saturation.Well done.TFS

Rob

Jose,
It is a REAL, REAL pleasure to read your highly educative
notes; done with meticulas care. BRAVO. Three times BRAVO.
Though the subject is "ugly" to look at the photography,
the composition and its presentation are OUTSTANDING.
"Parabens" in Portuguese.
Congratulations in English.
And "Felicitaciones" in Spanish.
Best and warm regards from your true friend in Canada,
Mario.

Hi Jose,
Doesn't look very delicious to me, this mole cricket.
Never saw one before...
Good work.
TFS
Annick

Hello Jose,
Interesting capture of the insect, as it is melting into the surroundings!
Good sharp details and fine natural colours, very well done on the macro work!
Greetings,
Pablo -

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