Field Notes: Jerusalem Crickets! (Patreon)

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Hey, Deep Peeps!

My name is Jenny Oh, and I'm one of the producers for Deep Look. 

We're busy during our winter break working on some new episodes that will premiere in January. :-)

One of those episodes will be about Jerusalem crickets -- which aren't technically crickets or from Jerusalem.  If you've ever stumbled across on out on a hike, or even in your backyard, they might have startled you with their eerie appearance ... huge head, beady eyes, and their sheer bulk. Not to mention, their unusual percussive sounds.

A male Jerusalem cricket patiently posing for us while we film it for Deep Look.

It’s hard to find Jerusalem crickets in the wintertime. Not only are they nocturnal -- you have to hunt for them at night -- but it’s the time of year when they’re most likely in quasi-hibernation mode (like many insects.) So the crickets are often hiding under rocks and spending time in areas where they won’t freeze. Fortunately, we didn’t have to try and collect any to film for Deep Look. Researcher David Weissman was kind enough to lend us some "talent" for our episode as he's been studying them for over 40 years.

When my fellow Deep Look producer and cinematographer Josh Cassidy and I walked into David's research lab – a small, converted room in his garage – the first thing we noticed was the sound: a low, persistent scratching. We soon discovered that’s what 30+ specimens sound like as they restlessly crawl around inside of plastic storage containers. 

Josh had skillfully created several “habitats” using rocks, leaves and small branches from the area to simulate a woodland environment. As they were quite apt to scurry off of the table – David had to wrangle them as they headed towards the table’s edge -- we used an aquarium to keep them confined for a few key shots.  

In the end, our stars were quite agreeable, demonstrating their unique drumming ability. They strike the ground with their abdomens to alert their presence to potential mates. 

Deep Look lead producer and cinematographer Josh Cassidy and David Weissman, a research associate in entomology affiliated with the California Academy of Sciences, get a Jerusalem cricket ready for its close up.

And while many people might find them a bit creepy, after watching countless research videos and filming with them for two days -- they grew on me -- especially when I realized they remind me of this cute vintage toy.