Phaeophilacris bredoides, commonly known as the East African cave cricket, is a fascinating, non-singing species native to Zambia, particularly the Chibongwe cave system. Originally described as Pholeogryllus geertsi in 1968, it was later reclassified after extensive study at the Natural History Museum in Vienna.

These crickets are small (1.5–2 cm), with extremely long antennae and legs, giving them a spider-like appearance. Females are wingless and possess a long, needle-like ovipositor, while males have smooth upper wings and lack the ability to chirp—making them ideal for silent breeding setups. Their yellowish-grey bodies are speckled with dark spots, and both sexes lack hearing organs.

In captivity, they thrive at around 28°C with 50–75% humidity, preferring well-ventilated enclosures with vertical surfaces to climb. They feed on a wide range of organic matter and are active at night, using wing flicking to generate air currents for short-range communication