Preliminary study of central Texas cave cricket monitoring (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae)

Abstract Presence of cave crickets is important for health and stability of karst ecosystems. Our study represents the first long-term monitoring of cave crickets at Cave X. Our results add necessary information regarding an important nutrient-cycling species in a central Texas karst ecosystem. Nymphs were the most abundant size class during the study, followed by juveniles, and large adults were least abundant. Relative abundance of cave crickets showed a trend with temperature and humidity.