Spiders are creepy in an
obvious way. Just look at them. They have too many legs, eight eyes, and big
fangs. Additionally, they are ambush
killers by nature.
Beetles aren’t creepy because
they are slow and deliberate. They are akin
to clumsy little robots. And beetles
have a more appropriate number of legs.
Until yesterday, my view of
crickets was entirely positive. I like a
good jumper. And you have to admire an
insect that can carry a tune.
Well, turns out there is creepy
kind of cricket—a type of cave cricket.
I read about this type of cricket yesterday. The creepiness has to do with food.
Crickets are omnivores and
scavengers by nature. They will eat most
anything. But the cave cricket has taken
an “open” diet to the extreme. If times
are lean, the crickets will begin cannibalizing one another, which is a little
disturbing. Creepier yet, if times are
downright desolate, a cave cricket will tear off one of its own hind legs and
eat it.
This practice could be somewhat
reasonable if the leg regenerated. In
the case of the cave cricket, the leg is gone for good.
—Mitchell Hegman
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