Insects are the largest family in the animal kingdom, there are all types, there are those that look like popcorn or even metallic appearances brighter than a mirror. But one of the most common insects that can be observed in the cities of North America is the babyface, named for its peculiar appearance that is feared by its observers, however, there is nothing to fear as they are completely harmless insects.
With the scientific name Stenopelmatus fuscus, it receives the popular name ‘baby face’ or ‘Jerusalem cricket’. They live in humid gardens where they love to dig underground, they are even so quick to dive underground that they can be lost sight of in an instant.
It can be found in the western United States, in the regions near the Pacific and also lives in central Mexico, a region where it is endemic. In fact, it is one of the few strange-looking insects that can be seen in the gardens of Mexico City.
Appearance of baby faces
The Stenopelmatus fuscus or babyface, is not a species of arachnid, in fact, it is closer to crickets than to any other species of insect and it demonstrates this by rubbing its hind legs against its abdomen, which produces a very similar sound. that of the crickets.
It has a peculiarly large size for members of the Gryllidae family. Adults reach 3 to 5 centimeters in length and the female is usually much larger than the male. It could be said that their appearance is a mix between an ant and a cricket, as they have a reddish brown color although their body is of a very robust size, including their legs.
Its head is large and elongated, with two large black eyes in the widest part and two antennae growing next to it. Their jaws are designed to bite with great force, as they love to feed on tubers and roots.
They are not poisonous
It is often believed that babyfaces are poisonous or dangerous due to their robust and imposing appearance, however, this is not the case. In fact, it is a fairly harmless animal, although from time to time, if it feels threatened it can deliver a painful bite.
It must be clear that a bite from a baby’s face does not represent any danger, except for the pain it could cause. But other than that, these are not poisonous insects that could cause any toxicological reaction. On the contrary, they are animals that are vulnerable to their natural habitat, so the best decision if we encounter one is to let it continue on its way.