The Potato Bug is another name for the Jerusalem Cricket. Although these insects are not poisonous they can inflict harm on predators. They have a very painful bite. Potato bugs are nocturnal and spend most of their time underground. They use their sharp mouthparts to burrow into the ground. Jerusalem crickets feed mostly on dead and living plants. They are rarely found in large numbers and because they spend most of their time underground, they are rarely seen as a problem. These insects can be considered harmful to humans in a couple ways. They are harmful if bitten by one and they have an appetite for farmers’ plants.