desert bugs - Top That! Publishing

Do insects use their legs in self-defence
Native Americans once called this strange-looking insect ‘Woh-tzi Neh,’ which means ‘old bald-headed man’.
It is, in fact, a Jerusalem cricket, and although at 5 cm (2 in.) in length it may look fearsome, it doesn’t sting
and isn’t poisonous – so how does it protect itself from harm? Instead of using its strong hind legs to
jump away from danger like other crickets might, they help it
perform a disappearing act! When threatened, it uses the spikes
on its powerful hind legs to dig a hole in the soil or sand and
disappears to safety underground.
The Jerusalem cricket uses
its powerful hind legs to
dig into the ground.
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