Forest structure and elevation predict detection and occupancy of cave crickets (Insecta: Orthoptera:...

Insects represent a major component of terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem function, yet the environmental drivers of occurrence and detection remain poorly understood for many ground-dwelling taxa. Environmental gradients can influence both whether insect taxa occupy habitats and how frequently they are detected during sampling. Rhaphidophoridae (cave crickets) are moisture-dependent, ground-dwelling orthopterans associated with caves, rock crevices, and forest-floor refuges. Here, we used occupancy models that account for imperfect detection to examine how habitat structure and elevation influence detection and occupancy probabilities of Rhaphidophoridae across 75 sites, each measuring 1 hectare, in Hidalgo, Mexico. Rhaphidophoridae were present in 33 of 75 sites. The best supported model indicated that detection probability increased with forest-associated habitat structure (tree and shrub cover, deep leaf litter, refuge availability, and low disturbance), whereas occupancy probability increased with elevation. Herbaceous cover did not predict occupancy but was negatively associated with detection. These findings suggest that broad environmental gradients constrain occurrence, whereas detectability is associated with forest structure and lower human disturbance. Our study provides new ecological data on Rhaphidophoridae in Mexico and demonstrates how distinguishing between drivers of occupancy and detection can improve ecological inference from field surveys.