Orthoptera of North Carolina
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View Rhaphidophoridae Members: NC Records

Ceuthophilus crassifemoris Hubbell, 1929 - Thick-legged Camel Cricket


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Taxonomy
Family: Rhaphidophoridae Subfamily: Ceuthophilinae Tribe: Ceuthophilini
Comments: One of 62 species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Cigliano et al., 2018); eight have been recorded in North Carolina. Placed in the Spinosus Species Group by Hubbell (1936)
Species Status: The type locality for this species is Southern Pines, NC (Hubbell, 1929, 1936)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google Images,  iNaturalist, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Hubbell (1929, 1936)                                                                                  
Comments: A large, robust, short-legged Camel Cricket. The dorsum is typically a uniform dark reddish-brown, with darker shadings especially along the rear of each segment; a recessive form shows faint, lighter markings. The front of the head, lower sides of the thorax, and legs are cinnamon-rufous to ochraceous-tawny (Hubbell, 1929, 1936).
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: Length of the pronotum is 6.5-7.3 mm, males; 6.5-7.2 mm, females (Hubbell, 1936}
Structural Features: Legs are short and stout; the hind femur has strong spines on the ventral surface. The pseudosternite of the male has a projecting shelf (explanate, somewhat hooded in appearance). Apex of the epiproct is abruptly truncate or emarginate (Hubbell, 1936). Ovipositor with only four teeth, including the distal hook.
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Adult Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Probably Longleaf Pine sandridges
Diet: Omnivorous
Observation Methods: This species is probably completely nocturnal and best detected using bait, either oatmeal or molasses
Abundance/Frequency: We have too few data for this species to estimate its abundance or relative frequency of occurrence
Adult Phenology:
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: [W3]
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR] [S2S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: This species is known from very few records -- all historic. It also has a small global range and appears to be specialized on a somewhat restricted habitat type. Not enough surveys have been conducted in North Carolina, however, to make an accurate assessment of its status or conservation needs.