What is the primary reason the Jerusalem cricket is commonly called the "potato bug"?

Answer

Its diet consists primarily of underground tubers, including potatoes

The widespread adoption of the name stems from its feeding habits; the insect spends most of its life underground consuming roots, tubers like potatoes, and bulbs, making it intuitive to blame it for damage to these crops.

What is the primary reason the Jerusalem cricket is commonly called the "potato bug"?

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Potato Bug Facts: the JERUSALEM Cricket Animal Fact Files

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