Greenhouse Camel Cricket

Tachycines asynamorus is a medium-sized, apterous camel cricket. Its body length ranges from 11.3–14.6 mm (0.4–0.6 in). It has very long antennae, palps, and cerci. The female has a long, gently upcurved ovipositor, 10.7–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) in length. Their coloration is gray to yellow-brown or even reddish-brown ground color, with the abdomen being patterned with dark brown spots and stripes. The pronotum has a dark brown edge, the legs are dark and lightly ringed, this pattern is particularly visible on the hind legs. The antennae, palps, legs and cerci are conspicuously long. At 70 to 80 millimeters long, the antennae are about four times the length of the body, the cerci reach about 10 millimeters in both males and females and are flexible, hairy all around, and evenly tapered to the tip. The palps of the lower jaw are up to 15 millimeters long. Greenhouse camel crickets have no auditory openings and no simple eyes (ocelli), but their simple eyes are fully developed. It is thought that their long legs are an adaptation to their nocturnal lifestyle and are used as additional tactile organs. The cerci are also used for touching, but the males cannot grasp with them and therefore do not use them for mating. The tarsi on the fore and middle legs are only slightly shorter than the femora. …

The crickets are active at dusk and at night, avoid light and hide between boards and other objects, such as flower pots, during the day. They feed carnivorously on various small insects, such as aphids and dead insects, as well as on plant material such as fruit, seeds, seedlings or young leaves and flowers. They therefore cause damage in greenhouses, especially when they occur en masse. With their well-developed jumping muscles, greenhouse insects can jump up to 1.5 meters and 0.5 meters high. Even when males fight with each other, the jumping muscles are used to fend off rivals, which is particularly common when there are large populations in hiding places. Originating in the caves of eastern Asia, it is omnivorous, sometimes carnivorous, or a scavenger of dead insects and other organic material.

Pairing. As with all members of the cave cricket family, these animals are unable to produce any vocalizations. During courtship, males use noiseless swinging movements to attract females. When mating, the male positions himself under the female from the front, allowing her to climb over him. The male possesses glands on his back, which the female licks. The spermatophore is then attached to the end of the female's abdomen, and the two animals are connected solely by this. After mating, the male dismounts from the female, who remains seated and begins to consume the spermatophore. …