Could this be possible?

KRACHON (กระชอน) is shown as both:

1. Colander/strainer/sieve

2. Mole cricket (Gryllotalpa africana)

Strange, but true? If someone could confirm this, I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

Just received confirmation that KRACHON actually is used for both a straining utensil and also a mole cricket.

The Royal Institute dictionary also has both definitions. However, it gives the Mole Cricket as Gryllotalpa orientalis - not africana (which actually makes more sense. What would an african mole cricket be doing in Thailand?).

Dear AyG,

Thank you for checking that up. I thought it was a bit strange also.

The scientific term you give sounds much more plausible.

I appreciate you taking that extra step to confirm this.

The Royal Institute dictionary also has both definitions. However, it gives the Mole Cricket as Gryllotalpa orientalis - not africana (which actually makes more sense. What would an african mole cricket be doing in Thailand?).

It's difficult to be sure, because species is not a well-defined concept. The simple fact is that what is now called G. orientalis was originally thought to be G. africana. I can't dig up enough information to determine whether they are distinct under all definitions of 'species'.

1) Is correct. Just bought a plastic strainer for aquarium fish. Shop clerk told me its simply called กระชอน.

2)

Yes, the Thai WiKi shows แมลงกระชอน (maeng grachon) for mole cricket.

Compare:

English:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_cricket

Corresponding Thai article:

http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99

Dear KhunBENQ,

Thank you for that.

I think the strainer also is common for bamboo strainers.

Dear Richard W,

Thank you for that.

I think I will stick with Gryllotalpa orientalis, as the scientific term, considering it relates to Thailand.