![]() They will kick out of their back legs much like a donkey does when they feel an extreme threat. ![]() Most of the time potato bugs will try to get away from you as quickly as possible, even leaping when necessary. Though they might look tough, potato bugs will only become aggressive when threatened. They prefer being underground anyway and will shy away from humans if spotted. Jerusalem crickets are a classic example of the pest being more afraid of us than we are of them. Potato bugs do emit a foul smell to deter predators when threatened, but with these guys, you need only worry about their jaws. While the potato bug does have toxin-laced saliva that destroys plants, it is not dangerous to humans. They are not poisonous in any way, and the worst you will get from these guys is a painful bite when threatened. ![]() Do the Bite and Are they Dangerous?Ī potato bug will do everything it can to avoid you, but if you persist and threaten them, you can expect a bite. This bite, while painful, typically will not need treatment and should only hurt for a few minutes. To avoid getting bit, you should keep an eye out when gardening and always wear a good pair of gloves just in case. They are frequently found when the soil is being tilled for winter or spring plantings. As the soil gets moved around, it disturbs the bugs and brings them to the surface. Check for any bugs and remove them before planting. They prefer areas of the garden and flower beds where plants have started to decay. They prefer moist conditions with a lot of organic material. Potato bugs have very strong jaws and legs that allow them to burrow into the soil. They are nocturnal insects which spend most of their time underground. Potato bugs are primarily found in the Western United States and parts of Mexico. If food is exceptionally scarce potato bugs will eat other insects and even other potato bugs alive or dead. When the potato bug does not have access to dead or decaying organic material it is more likely to go after the healthier plants like the ones in your garden. This can stunt the growth of a plant as a result of the toxin in the potato bug’s saliva being transferred to the plants. They eat almost any fruits or vegetables by sucking the plant’s juices from the undersides of leaves and stems. Unlike the name suggests, they have no preference for potatoes but love any underground organic material. Potato bugs mainly eat organic material like plants, crops, roots, and tubers. They have a red, human like heads and antennas that look like long pieces of thread. The creep factor is not helped because the potato bug has a massive head and small black eyes that look childlike. They have no wings and instead hobble around awkwardly on translucent, spider like legs and have been known to hop when frightened and are frequently mistaken for giant velvet ants. Basically, the potato bug is the Frankenstein’s monster of the insect world. Potato bugs are around two inches long with black and orange banded bodies that look like engorged wasps. They are also not crickets, but more closely related to grasshoppers and have no logical connection to Jerusalem. They do not chirp or rub their legs together but do hiss and drum on their abdomens to make noise and attract mates. The name potato bug is very misleading as they are not bugs but insects and have no particular fondness for potatoes. ![]() They are a member of the Stenopelmatidae family and are different from the Colorado potato beetle. The potato bug is also known as the Jerusalem cricket (even though it is not a cricket and isn’t from Jerusalem). It is also called the child’s face, skunk bug, skull insect, old bald-headed man, devil’s spawn and earth baby. This article tells you how to spot a potato bug, where to find them, and what to do when you encounter one. It also answers the age-old question: are potato bugs poisonous or dangerous? The potato bug does have a purpose so you might want to think twice about eliminating it. Let’s be honest, potato bugs are not cute. In fact, they have a variety of names that reflect just how horrible and disgusting Jerusalem crickets or potato bugs are. But just because they look terrifying doesn’t mean they are anything to be afraid of.
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