Schizodactylus monstrosus

Description

Schizodactylus monstrosus is a species of large cricket found in Asia. It is found mainly in sandy habitats and has large flattened tarsal extensions and wings that are curled at the tip. They are nocturnal and show a high degree of variation in activity during the day and night. They are known to be cannibalistic in captivity as adults as well as nymphs. The preferred habitats is along the sandy banks of rivers. The splayed and flattened appendages on the tarsi is presumed to be an adaptation to sandy soils where they dig deep burrows. It has been noted that a closely related species S. inexspectatus is carnivorous and this species is also expected to be carnivorous. T B Fletcher declared that an individual in captivity did not feed on any vegetable matter. These crickets are favourite food for many tribes in Arunachal Pradesh.