Entomological enigma explained!!!

Thanks to the superlative savoir faire of my dear fried Leslie, I have solved my mysterious insect invasion! My initial thoughts on the hive/nest/castle were termite in origin but the exterminator's ID had me befuddled. And the big bug was just extraterrestrially freaky. I was at Leslie and Stu's house this weekend past and began explaining the encounter. She told me it sounded like a potato bug and that she had dug one up in the garden years prior.

Now, I always thought those little grey bugs that roll up when you touch them were potato bugs. Oh nay nay! I showed her the photo and she confirmed that it looked like her bug. I then Googled (don't you just love how Google has become a globally accepted verb?!) potato bugs and BLAMMO! See for yourself:


So there you have it! The nest was created by termites and the big guy, also known as a Jerusalem cricket, which normally lives underground, feeds on decaying roots and insects. Apparently the giant gap under my front door and the building's termite infestation were an upsize-combo it simply couldn't resist!