Jerusalem crickets ([picture of Jerusalem cricket], aka sand crickets or potato bugs) are truly bizarre looking insects. People sometimes think they have uncovered an alien species the first time they encounter one.
The large shiny head and scorpion-like abdomen immediately suggest that this creature is dangerous. It is not. Jerusalem crickets can't sting and are non-venomous. However, like any large insect, up to 2" in this case, they can bite.
While not a true cricket, Jerusalem crickets feed on plant material like crickets and grasshoppers as well as other insects. They are not usually present in numbers that would cause damage to garden plants. Jerusalem crickets live mostly underground, or under rocks, and may wander into outbuildings looking for shade and water. These insects are actually fairly common throughout the western US and other dry, semi-arid climates worldwide. No control is necessary.
