Jerusalem Crickets, Family Stenopelmatidae

Jerusalem Crickets, Family Stenopelmatidae Seeing a Jerusalem cricket for the first time can be an unsettling experience, even to those who arent prone to entomophobia. They look somewhat like giant, muscular ants with humanoid heads and dark, beady eyes. Although Jerusalem crickets (family Stenopelmatidae) are indeed quite large, theyre generally harmless. We know relatively little about their life history, and many species remain unnamed and undescribed. What Jerusalem Crickets Look Like Did you ever play the board game Cootie as a child? Imagine turning over a rock, and finding a Cootie come to life, staring up at you with a menacing expression! Thats how people often discover their first Jerusalem cricket, so its no surprise that these insects have earned many nicknames, none of them particularly endearing. In the 19th century, people used the expression Jerusalem! as an expletive, and thats believed to be the origin of the common name. People also believed (incorrectly) that these odd insects with human faces were highly venomous and potentially lethal, so they were given nicknames rife with superstition and fear: skull insects, bone neck beetles, old bald-headed man, face of a child, and child of the Earth (Nià ±o de la Tierra in Spanish-speaking cultures). In California, theyre most often called potato bugs, for their habit of nibbling on potato plants. In entomology circles, theyre also called sand crickets or stone crickets. Jerusalem crickets range in length from a respectable 2 cm to an impressive 7.5 cm (about 3 inches) and can weigh as much as 13 g. Most of these flightless crickets are brown or tan in color but have a striped abdomen with alternating bands of black and light brown. Theyre quite plump, with robust abdomens and large, round heads. Jerusalem crickets lack venom glands, but they do have powerful jaws and can inflict a painful bite if mishandled. Some species in Central America and Mexico can jump to flee from danger. When they reach sexual maturity (adulthood), males can be differentiated by females by the presence of a pair of black hooks at the tip of the abdomen, between the cerci. On an adult female, youll find the ovipositor, which is darker on the underside and located below the cerci. How Jerusalem Crickets Are Classified Kingdom – AnimaliaPhylum – ArthropodaClass – InsectaOrder – OrthopteraFamily - Stenopelmatidae What Jerusalem Crickets Eat Jerusalem crickets feed on organic matter in the soil, both living and dead. Some may scavenge, while others are thought to hunt other arthropods. Jerusalem crickets also practice cannibalism on occasion, particularly when confined together in captivity. Females will often eat their male partners after consummating the relationship (much like the sexual cannibalism of female praying mantids, which is better known). The Life Cycle of  Jerusalem Crickets   Like all of the Orthoptera, Jerusalem crickets undergo incomplete or simple metamorphosis. The mated female oviposits eggs a few inches deep in the soil. Young nymphs usually appear in the fall, less often in the spring. After molting, the nymph eats the cast skin to recycle its precious minerals. Jerusalem crickets require perhaps a dozen molts, and almost two full years to reach adulthood. In some species or climates, they may need up to three years to complete the life cycle. Special Behaviors of  Jerusalem Crickets   Jerusalem crickets will wave their spiny hind legs in the air to repel any perceived threats. Their concern is not without merit, because most predators cant resist such a fat, easy-to-catch insect. They are an important source of nutrition for bats, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and other animals. Should a predator manage to yank its leg loose, the Jerusalem cricket nymph can regenerate the missing limb over successive molts. During courtship, both male and female Jerusalem crickets drum their abdomens to call receptive mates. The sound travels through the soil and can be heard via special auditory organs on the crickets legs. Where Jerusalem Crickets  Live In the U.S., Jerusalem crickets inhabit western states, especially those along the Pacific Coast. Members of the family Stenopelmatidae are also well established in Mexico and Central America and are sometimes found as far north as British Columbia. They seem to prefer habitats with damp, sandy soils, but can be found from coastal dunes to cloud forests. Some species are restricted to such limited dune systems that they may warrant special protection, lest their habitat be adversely impacted by human activities. Sources: Jerusalem Crickets (Orthoptera, Stenopelmatidae), by David B. Weissman, Amy G. Vandergast, and Norihimo Ueshima. From Encyclopedia of Entomology, edited by John L. Capinera.Borror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. Johnson.BACKYARD MONSTERS? NOPE, JERUSALEM CRICKETS!, by Arthur V. Evans, Whats Bugging You?. Accessed March 4, 2013.Family Stenopelmatidae - Jerusalem Crickets, Bugguide.net. Accessed March 4, 2013.Jerusalem Crickets, California Academy of Sciences. Accessed March 4, 2013.Jerusalem Cricket, San Diego Museum of Natural History. Accessed March 4, 2013.

How to Write a Resume or CV in English

How to Write a Resume or CV in English Writing a resume in English can be very different than in your own language. The first and most important step is to take the time to prepare your materials thoroughly. Taking notes on your career, education, and other accomplishments and skills will ensure that you can shape your resume to a wide variety of professional opportunities. This is a moderately difficult task that may take around two hours. What You Need PaperTypewriter or computerDictionaryThesaurusPast employer addresses Steps to Writing Your Resume First, take notes on your work experience - both paid and unpaid, full time and part-time. Write down your responsibilities, job title, and company information. Include everything!Take notes on your education. Include degree or certificates, major or course emphasis, school names, and courses relevant to career objectives.Take notes on other accomplishments. Include membership in organizations, military service, and any other special accomplishments.From the notes, choose which skills are transferable (skills that are similar) to the job you are applying for - these are the most important points for your resume.Begin resume by writing your full name, address, telephone number, fax, and email at the top of the resume.Write an objective. The objective is a short sentence describing what type of work you hope to obtain.Begin work experience with your most recent job. Include the company specifics and your responsibilities - focus on the skills you have identified as transferable.Cont inue to list all of your work experience job by job progressing backward in time. Remember to focus on skills that are transferable. Summarize your education, including important facts (degree type, specific courses studied) that are applicable to the job you are applying for.Include other relevant information such as languages spoken, computer programming knowledge, etc. under the heading Additional Skills. Be ready to speak about your skills in the interview.Finish with the phrase: References: Available upon request.Your entire resume should ideally not be any longer than one page. If you have had a number of years of experience specific to the job you are applying for, two pages are also acceptable.Spacing: Separate each category (i.e.  Work Experience, Objective, Education, etc.)  with an empty line to improve readability.  Make sure to read your resume carefully to check grammar, spelling, etc.  Prepare thoroughly with your resume for the job interview. Its best to get as much job interviewing practice as possible. More Tips for Writing a Solid Resume Use dynamic action verbs such as accomplished, collaborated, encouraged, established, facilitated, founded, managed, etc.Do not use the subject I, use tenses in the past, except for your present job. Example: Conducted routine inspections of on-site equipment.Place your work experience  before  your education. In English speaking countries, especially in the United States, work experience is the most important factor in hiring.Ask for permission to use someone as a reference  before  you interview for a position. Its also a good idea to let your references know that you will be interviewing if you havent interviewed for a while. In this way, references will be in the loop if a potential employer calls or sends an email for further information.  Dont include the contact information of your references on your resume. The phrase  available upon request  will suffice.  Use a thesaurus to help you improve work-related vocabulary and eliminate unnecessary repetition. Example Resume Heres an example resume following the simple outline above. Notice how work experience uses shortened sentences in the past without a subject. This style is more common than repeating I.   Sample Resume Peter Jenkins25456 NW 72nd AvenuePortland, Oregon 97026503-687-9812pjenkinshappymail.comObjectiveBecome an Executive Producer in an established recording studio.Work Experience2004 - 2008  Lead singer in a band which toured North America.Responsibilities included arranging music and recording live performances.After two years, managed entire group and bookings.2008 - 2010  Producer at Sound Mixers Aligned studios in San Diego, California.Collaborated with a wide range of musicians to help produce demo recordings for major recording labels.Developed sound profiles recording setups for small to large ensembles.Became accomplished on a wide range of audio software packages.2010 - PresentDirector of artist relations at Spooky People Studios.Responsible for establishing a solid working relationship with our artists while meeting the needs of Spooky People Studios.  Education2000 - 2004  Bachelor of Science University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee  Additional SkillsFluent in Spa nish and FrenchExpert in Office Suite and Google DocumentsReferencesAvailable upon request Final Tip Make sure to always include a cover letter when applying for a job. These days, a cover letter is usually an email to which you attach your resume. Check Your Understanding Answer  true  or  false  for the following questions regarding the preparation of your resume in English.   Provide the references contact information on your resume.Place your education before your work experience.  List your work experience in reverse chronological order (i.e. begin with your current job and go backward in time).Focus on transferable skills to improve your chances of getting an interview.Longer resumes make better impressions. Answers False -  Only include the phrase References available upon request.False -  In English speaking countries, especially the USA, its more important to place your work experience first.True -  Start with your current job and list in backward order.True -  Transferable skills focus on skills that will apply directly to the position for which you are applying.False -  Try to keep your resume to just one page if possible.