Iridescent Camel Crickets that Didn't Skip Leg Day!

So, may have lost two species of camel crickets (my Daihiniini sp. "Sand Treaders" and local Idaho Ceuthophilus agassizii) this year... but that just means I have to come back with a vengeance and collect even more unique species than I lost! 😁

Thanks to a trade with a fellow hobbyist, I am happy to introduce to my collection Pristoceuthophilus sp. "Walnut Creek, CA"! The males of this genus are known to have very unusual hind leg morphology, which may be used in fighting other males for females/territory. I don't know if this is a normal feature for this genus, or just this species in particular, but the adults have a beautiful oil slick iridescence to them, not unlike that of Simandoa nymphs. 😍 

This genus is known to be a bit heat sensitive, but other than that I'd imagine breeding should be straightforward, similar to Ceuthophilus. I've got mine in a moderately ventilated container with an inch or so of coconut fiber and sand substrate, which I'm keeping humid. I've got lots of hides in there, am offering dog food and fruits as the diet, and am keeping them at around 70-75F°.

Here are some pictures of an adult pair:

Male

Female

The males of this genus REALLY don't skip leg day... 🤣 And as such, have a very impressive leap for their size. Hopefully they will reproduce easily for me. 🙏

Anyways, that does it for this post, thanks for reading, hope everyone enjoyed, and I'll see you all next time! 😉