Comments on: Hideous Bugs Invade California

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:49:43 +0000

You wrote “etymologist” but that’s a person who studies the history of words. You meant entomologist, someone who studies insects. : )

By: david

david — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:14:08 +0000

We found one in our yard- these things are huge!
this is in the NewportMesa area of OrangeCounty California-
is it normal to be this far south?

By: Alison Robin

Alison Robin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:16:53 +0000

@ Kathy

They aren’t poisonous, but they have a powerful and painful bite.

By: Kathy Guzman

Kathy Guzman — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:42:54 +0000

Do potato bugs bite or are they poisonous.!!!!

By: michele

michele — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:05:31 +0000

just got back from CA,potatobug was in bed with us and i rolled on it and squashed it, stuck to my shirt. husband had been drinking(heavily) was bug attracted to alcohol smell and do they gnaw at humans cheeks(face)

By: kd

kd — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:53:30 +0000

We encounter Jerusalem Crickets every spring in our arthropod studies. They are not invaders but native to the area and are not creatures to be feared. They like moist sandy soils and thrive in arid environments below the ground where moisture is still evident throughout the dry season. IMO, the increased sightings of these creatures is probably linked to moist landscaping around homes, which probably provide a comfortable environment for them all year long. No big mystery, and definitely not an invader. Just a creature that is seems to be doing well with adapting to the growth of suburban sprawl in southern California, like the corvids and the coyote.

By: Shari

Shari — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:38:18 +0000

These are not new in California. I lived in So. Cal. and went to camp in the San Berdo mountains back in the mid-50’s and they had a lot of these nasty looking bugs. I saw them in the Easy Bay of No. Cal. as wel. I now live in Oregon and have seen none up here. Maybe they are just hiding. ;*)

By: Dagny McKinley

Dagny McKinley — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:04:25 +0000

Fear is usually what creates hatred. Although not the most appealing bug, every creature has its purpose and we should respect that.

Dagny McKinley
http://www.onnotextiles.com
organic apparel