Eugryllacris guomashan (Guomashan True-Raspy Cricket) Feeding

[The Pnigomantis Keeper]

This post boutta be a banger.
Among Chinese orthopteran hobbyists, raspy crickets are very popular since many species are readily available in China. The Eugryllacris species are among the most popular as they are one of the largest, most aggressive, most powerful, and most gluttonous species of raspy crickets known to man (on par with the Chauliogryllacris species of Australia).

Eugryllacris guomashan is the most powerful Eugryllacis species from China and probably anywhere, and an even stronger orthopteran species in China is yet to be found (many predacious katydids have greater lengths, but guomashan's head width, mandible size, biting speed, thorax & leg strength, and battle IQ are just unmatched). They will eat anything live and beatable, as well as bug parts and fruits.

Some pictures of this species on INaturalist actually misidentified it as another species (Eugryllacris comotti), so be aware.

I'll stop the rambling. Here are some of my pics & vids:

4I baby eating a fruit fly


8I! He grew so much!

Eating a cricket

Here's a vid of him (8I) chewing on a cricket:

And here's a vid of him (8I) hunting a cockroach, just to show you his speed.

A Hungry True-Raspy Cricket (Eugryllacris guomashan) Nymph Killing a Cockroach with Lightning Speed

Sorry for the terrible video quality.

www.youtube.com

9I, eating a cricket


His first meal after reaching adulthood:


This was my second guomashan, a female. This is her eating 2 large crickets in a row.

True-Rapsy Cricket (Eugryllacris guomashan) Being Really Bloodthirsty #feeding #hunting #insect

Eugryllacris guomashan is the largest species of raspy cricket in China, and also the largest predatory Orthopteran species native to China. Adorable.

www.youtube.com

This is her hiding inside a tube. They really like tight spaces and will use silk to make shelters from leaves both in nature and in captivity.


This is her reaching adulthood (5.7cm in length) and enjoying some fruits. Gorgeous.


View attachment 873_1692217019.mp4


And...... Intimidation stance to end.


Sadly, I did not film that many videos of guomashan actually hunting down prey. But this really is a very vicious and delightful species to keep.

See y'all tomorrow with another raspy cricket species, Haplogryllacis sp.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Nice, thank you for sharing all that. What a stunning colorful raspy cricket.

How long is their lifespan?

I seen you handling your raspy cricket is that something you would recommend or give a warning about?

 

[The Pnigomantis Keeper]

Nice, thank you for sharing all that. What a stunning colorful raspy cricket.

How long is their lifespan?

I seen you handling your raspy cricket is that something you would recommend or give a warning about?

The adults have around a 5-6 month lifespan, so a total of 10 months from nymph to death.

I really recommend safely handling raspy crickets, even one of this size. Raspy crickets have huge appetites, so sometimes it's good for them to climb around you. Running helps them to digest, otherwise, there are high risks of them rectal prolapsing and dying. You could also form your hand into the shape of a cave, and the raspy cricket will happy stay inside. Sometimes they will even start to spin silk on your hand cave if they feel really secure! Raspy crickets (or any predatory katydids) will only bite you if they are really really hungry or they feel threatened. When raspy crickets feel threatened, they will get into their intimidation stance first before biting, so take the hint!

 

[Arachnophobphile]

The adults have around a 5-6 month lifespan, so a total of 10 months from nymph to death.

I really recommend safely handling raspy crickets, even one of this size. Raspy crickets have huge appetites, so sometimes it's good for them to climb around you. Running helps them to digest, otherwise, there are high risks of them rectal prolapsing and dying. You could also form your hand into the shape of a cave, and the raspy cricket will happy stay inside. Sometimes they will even start to spin silk on your hand cave if they feel really secure! Raspy crickets (or any predatory katydids) will only bite you if they are really really hungry or they feel threatened. When raspy crickets feel threatened, they will get into their intimidation stance first before biting, so take the hint!

Thanks for all that info. Such a shame they have a short lifespan.

Yes I seen the intimidation photo you had shared I took it as the raspy saying leave me alone haha.

We can't get raspy crickets here in the U S. I tried finding anyone selling them so I'm guessing they are either not allowed to be imported or just no one has bothered trying to import them.

Can't find anything here on them. I find them fascinating.

 

[ColeopteraC]

I see many of these predatory orthopterans are kept in bare enclosures, is there any particular reason for this? How would they fare in an enclosure planted with a Pothos vine for instance?

 

[The Pnigomantis Keeper]

I see many of these predatory orthopterans are kept in bare enclosures, is there any particular reason for this? How would they fare in an enclosure planted with a Pothos vine for instance?

Good question! The thing is, at the time I was a high school student without much money, so an elaborate enclosure...yeah. Also, in bare enclosures, I can very effectively control humidity. But I have had friends who created enclosures with bromelioideae plants for their raspy crickets, and they work just fine.