Black Cricket Identity????

[Sarahmitz]

Help! Can anyone give me the name of a formidible looking black cricket -like insect that entered my house. Approx 1 inch long, armoured body, back legs approx 1inch high & a nasty looking 'horn' at rear. The cat tried to eat it but it beat the cat & the cat was sick (nasty spray from insect maybe?) I've had no luck with google images. Thanks in advance to your replies,
Sarah.

[Lonnie]

Hi Sarah,
The closest I could come to your description, was a 'Rove Beetle',
It may not have been, but apparently, there are over 46.000 differnt types, so it could have been one of them.

I would hazard a guess, that you'd already seen them, but just in case,

http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/beetle2.h tm

[fredpuli47]

The "devil's coach horse" fits the bill.It's big and black. When threatened ,it curls its rear up, a bit like a scorpion but not hooked right round like a scorpion, and emits a foul chemical.That would explain your cat's behaviour!

[Sarahmitz]

Thankyou Lonnie & Fredpuli- I'll now check out your responses and find out more... adleast I have a lead, Marple is on the case, thanks again,Sarah.

[Sarahmitz]

Sorry guys, just googled Devils coach Horse, that is a beetle. This thing had the head of a cricket/locust( think of film Ants) and had the middle set of legs high like a cricket. The horn on the rear was slender and curved upward. It was a scary looking thing. My 1st thought was that it was a beetle due to the armour but the head was wrong. Thanks again for your imput, I'm not that good with the insect kingdom.

[Ed Strong]

Could it be something like this?

http://bugguide.net/node/view/3904

or maybe you might find something similar on the site.

[Cetti]

Hello Sarah, It sounds a bit as though your little beast might be a female Field Cricket as it does fit your description perfectly.
If it is, then it's on the endangered list in the UK and fully protected by law. The 'horn' was the oviposter, the bit that lays eggs, so no spraying to worry about there. Just to make certain it is what I suggested here's the best pic I could find for you to look at:

http://www.inmagine.com/cr15373/cr15373020-pho to

[Sarahmitz]

Thanks to all for your help. Cetti, thanks-the creature looked the same as your image but the 'horn' was almost 1 inch long. Could this happen i.e. grow during gestation ?(is that the right word in the insect kingdom???). Just to add it wasn't harmed and released to the outside world,
Thanks to all again,
Sarah

[Cetti]

Sarah, Just to finish up here's a couple of videos showing the Black Field Cricket in all its glory - plus mating...so you will have to close your eyes for the last bit ;-)

The ovipositor is pretty long, almost half the length of the female's body at 7 - 12mm, so it can give the wrong impression of a fearsome creature.

[Cetti]

Oops, forgot link:

http://tinyurl.com/4xbqjt

[Sarahmitz]

Cetti, that was great. Problem solved Ta.

[King Normie]

Could it be Lenny Kravitz?
Maybe that "Purple Rain" Dude?

[VLADIMIR]

Yep King Normie that was my first thoughts but the thing didn't wear flaired trousers or cuban heals ( using Vladimir's computer)
Sarahmitz