Field cricket

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Field cricket

The common black cricket, Gryllus assimilis

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Orthoptera
Suborder:	Ensifera
Superfamily:	Grylloidea
Family:	Gryllidae
Subfamily:	Gryllinae Saussure, 1893

Genus

Many, including:
Acheta
Gryllodes
Gryllus
Leptogryllus
Teleogryllus

Field crickets are insects of order Orthoptera. These crickets are in subfamily Gryllinae of family Gryllidae.

They hatch in spring, and the young crickets (called nymphs) eat and grow rapidly. They shed their skin (molt) eight or more times before they become adults.

Field crickets eat a broad range of feeds: seeds, plants, or insects (dead or alive). They are known to feed on grasshopper eggs, pupae of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) and Diptera (flies). Occasionally they may rob spiders of their prey. They will also practice cannibalism if they are very hungry.

"Field cricket" is a common name for Gryllus assimilis, Gryllus bimaculatus, Gryllus campestris, Gryllus firmus, Gryllus pennsylvanicus, Gryllus rubens, and Gryllus texensis, along with other members of various genera including Acheta, Gryllodes and Gryllus.

Acheta domesticus (the house cricket) and Gryllus bimaculatus are sometimes raised in captivity for use as live food for exotic pets. Ironically, one of the ways to produce the most nutritious crickets is to feed them dry pet food.

[edit] Behavior

In mid to late summer, males begin chirping. The acoustical properties of their calling song provide an indication of past and present health. Females evaluate each song and move towards the one they prefer. When the male senses a female is near, he will produce a softer courting song. After mating, the female will search for a place to lay her eggs, preferably in warm, damp soil.

Field crickets prefer to live outdoors, but will move inside when environmental conditions become unfavorable. Their method of entry into buildings include open doors and windows as well as cracks in poorly fitted windows, foundations, or siding.

Unlike house crickets, which can adapt themselves to indoor conditions, the field cricket will die by early winter. Consequently, field crickets in temperate regions exhibit diapause.