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“This cricket is the only insect I have ever met that would
have a go at you and try to eat you.”
Brett says king crickets are thought to be a relatively common
species although infrequently encountered due to their preference for late
night foraging on warm spring and summer nights during light rain or high
humidity.
“During daylight hours, cold or dry periods they burrow into
moist soil or rotten logs,” Brett said.
“King crickets are thought to occur along the east coast of
NSW and Queensland and throughout Tasmania in moist forest.
“It is thought that they use those enlarged jaws to battle
other males over breeding females.
“They have an omnivorous diet ranging
from fungi to frogs, or basically anything that comes too close.
“The males are especially partial to cannibalism of females.”
The Lansdowne king cricket, with a head and body length
totalling 60mm, has been passed on to the Australian Museum in Sydney, along
with a female specimen caught in the same area.
Howard Spencer 
Public Affairs, Coffs Harbour
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