Handsome Trig (Phyllopalpus pulchellus)

Near an overgrown backyard habitat.

The Handsome Trig is monotypic of its genus. It is in the Gryllidae (True Cricket) family, but differs much from other Gryllids. It can be identified by its red head and thorax, pale legs, blue-black forewings, and strange palps (mouthparts). It is capable of letting out an extremely fast song for its body size, around 7kHz!

The name "Phyllopalpus" translates from Latin to "beautiful leaf-feeler." This name describes the species well, as it is constantly rotating and moving its palps and antennae. While this seems like a trivial action for an insect, the Handsome Trig is actually "tasting" its environment.