Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa

We have heaps of them here to, we call them mole crickets.

Monty said:

We have heaps of them here to, we call them mole crickets.

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we have an endemic species in NZ Triamescaptor aotea which I think is the only wingless species of mole cricket.

The genus Gryllotalpa is very widespread, and the name actually translates from Latin as "mole cricket" (gryllus is "cricket", talpa is "mole").

I've never seen one in real life though.

An endangered species in the UK, it might even be extinct. Sad in itself, and the demise of large insects like this explains why we don't have Red-backed Shrikes anymore.

They had these on exhibit at Bristol for a while, though I only saw one once, just poking head and thorax out of its burrow. Fascinating species and a great shot!