Brett’s Weak Spot – Camel Cricket Found at The Station

When one sees an insect it's not such a big deal and when one sees a camel it's not a big deal but imagine both of them put together.  I experienced this this morning at the radio station.  Talk about a wake up.

Back at home in Ohio, I had to deal with these little guys for a few years.  Usually during the winter months they would take refuge in the basement and find ways to crawl up through the cracks and the pipes.  They always seemed to be there when they were least expected, like when you are using the bathroom or in the living room watching television.

This morning at the radio station, in the men's room when I'm at my most vulnerable state, I see it... the ever popular Camel Cricket.  I think quick and grab the plunger, placing it on the top of this terrifying creature.  Great now what?  Luckily it jumped up inside of the plunger and I had to hit the plunger off the side of the toilet so he (assuming it's male) would fall in the water.  This worked great.  YES, TAKEN CARE OF!! And my record goes to 300-0 on the Jurassic bug scoreboard.  As I reach to flush the dinosaur down the toilet, it begins swimming and kicks those full grown lion legs and jumps out of the water (not out of the toilet just out of the water).  Plan B. Plunge the horse sized bug down the toilet.  That finally worked.

Plunging is a good tip however there are more ways-

Scary looking, indeed, not to mention they can jump really far and really high.  I mentioned on the show the scientific name for the "Cave Cricket" and its called the Rhaphidophoridae (ra-feedo-for-a-day).  Lets break that down first off.  Rhaphido sounds like Rapido which is Spanish for fast or quick.  Accurate info for these things.  Phoridae sounds like "for a day" which is how long your hair stands up on the back of your neck after a Camel Cricket, Cave Cricket or Spider Cricket sighting.  Lots of different names for these things too.  Here are some of the names i chose for these hopping death lurkers.