Great Plains Camel Cricket
Daihinia brevipes
This record describes Daihinia brevipes (species). Recorded family: Rhaphidophoridae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults with body about an inch long, dark brown in color, with very stout spiny limbs (particularly the males). Male hind femur with pronounced spines on back side. Front and hind tarsi have only three segments.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Rhaphidophoridae (Camel Crickets)
- Subfamily
- Ceuthophilinae
- Genus
- Daihinia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Usually sandy areas or dunes in open grasslands, but hiding usually within holes, burrows, or under rocks.
Geographic Range
Mostly Great Plains, east from Rocky Mountain base from North Dakota to Texas and New Mexico.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Eggs laid in burrows in late spring and summer hatch in summer. Overwintering occurs as 3rd and 4th instar nymphs. Adults most abundant in spring, with some surviving late into summer.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Daihinia brevipes. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Orthoptera includes ~28,000 described species of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Desert locusts can form swarms covering 460 square miles containing up to 80 million individuals per square kilometer.
Ecological role of the group
Grasshoppers and crickets are a primary food source for birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Cricket farming is a growing industry - crickets require 12× less feed than cattle to produce the same amount of protein, using 2,000× less water.
Economic and practical significance of the group
A single large locust swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. The 2019-2021 East Africa locust crisis affected food security for 42 million people across multiple countries. Global crop losses from locusts can reach billions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, UN World Food Programme, research publications. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Great Plains Camel Cricket
What is Great Plains Camel Cricket?
Great Plains Camel Cricket (Daihinia brevipes) is a species in the family Rhaphidophoridae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Great Plains Camel Cricket?
Adults with body about an inch long, dark brown in color, with very stout spiny limbs (particularly the males). Male hind femur with pronounced spines on back side. Front and hind tarsi have only three segments.
Where is Great Plains Camel Cricket found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Usually sandy areas or dunes in open grasslands, but hiding usually within holes, burrows, or under rocks. |
| Range | Mostly Great Plains, east from Rocky Mountain base from North Dakota to Texas and New Mexico. |
What is the life cycle of a Great Plains Camel Cricket?
Eggs laid in burrows in late spring and summer hatch in summer. Overwintering occurs as 3rd and 4th instar nymphs. Adults most abundant in spring, with some surviving late into summer.