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No. 26 · Hemimetabolous
Ice Crawlers / Rock Crawlers
Grylloblattodea
~35
Described species
~1
Families
Introduction
Ice crawlers are cold specialists — they forage at temperatures just above freezing on glaciers, snowfields, and in alpine talus.
Field marks
Key ID traits.
Wingless, pale, slender. Live at high altitude or in glacial / cave environments. Optimum body temperature near 1°C — die at room temperature.
Etymology
Latin gryllus 'cricket' + blatta 'cockroach'
Wings
Wingless
Diet
Omnivore · Detritivore
Habitat
Terrestrial · Cave
Notable examples
Northern rock crawler, Mt. St. Helens grylloblattid.
Where to look