Family: Grylloblattidae, Ice Insects view all from this family

Description The Northern Rock Crawler is a member of the ice insect family (Order Grylloblattodea). These small wingless insects were once called "living fossils." Because they slightly resemble crickets (gryllids) and cockroaches (blattids), their scientific name is a composite taken from the order names of both insects. Only 10 species are known worldwide; the 6 North American species are limited to icy mountains in California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, and northwest Canada. Ice insects are very primitive dark brown to black creatures with thin flattened bodies, 5/8-1 1/8" (15-30 mm) long. The glossy convex head has biting mouthparts, small compound eyes or none at all, and long antennae. Widely spread legs have 5-segmented tarsi. Long antennae-like appendages called cerci trail from the tip of the abdomen. The female has a distinctive sword-shaped ovipositor used to thrust eggs into the soil. Ice insects feed on hardy plants and other small insects found under logs and stones in the ice. Because they live in remote places, these insects were not discovered until 1914 in the Canadian Rockies. For most of the year, ice insects remain frozen. If placed upon a human hand, some species will perish from heat in only a few minutes.