Bugs, Bugs, and more Bugs

I just started a class called pest management. I honestly thought it might be boring and a lot of work. But, I found out this week that it is fascinating. <--this coming from a girl who really doesn't like bugs that much at all and abhors spiders. I get the chills just thinking about spiders. (by all means comment about how good they are for the environment. I agree. I just also think they are UBER creepy.)

Source

I figured since this is Ag Friday I'd share some entomology with you.
A couple weeks ago I was at a golf course. My mother spotted a bug and pointed it out to me because of the class I am in. I had never seen it before. This is it.

Creepy, right? Look at it's forelimbs (have no idea if that terminology is correct.) It's got little shovels. Based on the fact that it was found on a golf course and it's shovel-like appendages I guessed it was some sort of sod insect.

After a bit of digging (not the literal kind) I found out I was right. This is commonly referred to as a mole cricket. Like a mole, it burrows into the ground. It eats organic matter such as partially decomposed animal and plant matter.

Why does this matter to you?
It matters because so often we see something strange or ugly and crush it. We don't bother to think about the fact that it's probably not going to harm us and is most likely just trying to find a new source of food. This little guy (or gal) does a lot for our ecosystems. It breaks down bits of decaying matter and makes it usable for plants which feed animals, which feed us. So really, we have that creepy thing to thank for the dinner on our table. To me, that's incredible. Plow on little mole cricket, plow on.

See any creepy, strange, abnormal, or fascinating bugs lately? Have you identified them? If you want to, go here. Tell me about them in the comments!