About Neoscapteriscus abbreviatus (Scudder, 1869)
Neoscapteriscus abbreviatus is a medium-sized mole cricket, measuring 22 to 29 mm (0.9 to 1.1 inches) in length. Its leathery forewings are shorter than its prothorax, and its membranous hind wings are shorter than its forewings; this wing size leaves the species unable to fly. Members of the Neoscapteriscus genus are distinguished by having two sharp claws and a sharp-edged blade-like process on their forelegs, while other mole crickets have three or four claws. N. abbreviatus can be told apart from the other two Neoscapteriscus species found in Florida — N. borellii and N. vicinus — by examining the two foreleg claws. In N. abbreviatus, these claws diverge slightly, and the distance between their bases is equal to or greater than the size of one claw base. The two other Florida species have forewings longer than their prothorax, and hindwings that extend past the length of their abdomens. N. abbreviatus is native to South America, where it occurs in eastern Brazil; its type locality is Pernambuco, Brazil. It is now also found in Central America and the West Indies. It was accidentally introduced into Florida, United States, around 1900, most likely brought in with turf, manure, or live plant material. It occurs mostly in coastal regions, where it digs burrows in sandy soils within grassland, fields, road verges, turf, and lawns.
