children of the earth

for your viewing dis/pleasure-my least cuddle friendly specimen. the ever so creepy, screech inducing jerusalem cricket.
i kept this in a box for a while before deciding to take its photo (thanks matt!). this really is one of my least favorite things to look at in all the world. i have nightmares about these cussing things!
my first encounter with one was about five years ago. it was slowly crawling weary, weirdly, accross the sidewalk. i was stoned or something i think and i truly thought i was witnessing the spawn of an alien creature searching for its first victim. it was not gonna be me!!! i walked away and i never walk away! its pale armour and glazed over eyes. the large head and spiked appendages! no thanks.
they live underground moslty so that explains a lot about the way they look and the slow nature of their travel. they use their ginormous mandilbles to dig through dirt and in my mind,
to devour the digits of unsuspecting children playing in the yard.
back in your box alien baby!