Scientists have recently discovered a previously unknown species of cave cricket in an underground tunnel on the tiny Greek island of Kastellorizo—and named it after one of the most terrifying creatures in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
Researchers found the new species, Dolichopoda balrogi, in a man-made tunnel on Mount Vigla and formally described it. Their findings were published in the Journal of Orthoptera Research.
Unlike Tolkien’s monstrous Balrog, however, the newly discovered cricket is harmless.
A creature hiding in a Greek tunnel
The researchers encountered the crickets in an approximately 25-meter-deep artificial tunnel at an elevation of about 242 meters on Kastellorizo. The tunnel is about 1.5 meters wide and between 1.8 and 2.5 meters high, with natural light reaching only its entrance. Its internal temperature was approximately 17°C.
Two research groups independently encountered the crickets in October and November 2025. During one visit, researchers recorded 37 individuals, including males, females and juveniles.
The insects belong to Dolichopoda, a genus of cave crickets adapted to dark, humid underground environments. Their long legs help them move across walls and other surfaces in subterranean habitats.
Detailed examination of the insects revealed a combination of physical characteristics that distinguished them from every other known species in the genus. Researchers also conducted DNA analysis, using mitochondrial COI sequences, which confirmed that the Kastellorizo population represents a distinct evolutionary lineage.
Why name it after a Balrog?
The scientific name is a deliberate reference to Tolkien’s fictional creature.
In The Lord of the Rings, the Balrog dwells deep beneath the mountains in the ancient underground realm of Khazad-dûm. The researchers explained that the name reflects both the insect’s subterranean habitat and the unusual circumstances of its discovery.
The cricket was found exclusively inside a man-made tunnel because Kastellorizo has no accessible natural caves. The study’s authors specifically linked the discovery to Tolkien’s famous idea of creatures being uncovered after explorers “delved too deep.”
The comparison stops there. The new species is not dangerous or aggressive.
“Fortunately, unlike Tolkien’s fearsome creature, Dolichopoda balrogi is harmless,” the researchers’ description notes.
A surprising evolutionary connection
The discovery is scientifically significant beyond its unusual name.
Genetic analysis found that Dolichopoda balrogi is closely related to species found in southwestern Anatolia, particularly D. lycia and D. sbordonii. It did not group closely with the better-known Dolichopoda species found elsewhere in the eastern Aegean.
The authors say the finding represents the first documented occurrence of an Anatolian lineage of Dolichopoda within European territory. It highlights Kastellorizo’s unusual biogeographical position at the meeting point of European and Anatolian influences.
Kastellorizo is tiny—covering only about nine square kilometers—but its location in the eastern Mediterranean makes it particularly interesting to scientists studying the distribution and evolution of species.
The discovery also illustrates how much remains unknown about biodiversity in seemingly familiar places. Researchers say artificial underground environments such as tunnels and abandoned structures can provide habitats for specialized organisms.
Lead researcher Konstantinos Kalaentzis emphasized that discoveries of new species are not confined to remote rainforests or the deep ocean.
“Even familiar landscapes and human-made structures can harbor species that have remained unnoticed,” Kalaentzis said.
Related: The Ancient Greek Myth That Inspired Lord of the Rings Author J.R.R. Tolkien
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