Field cricket
Encyclopedia
Field crickets are insects of order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...

 Orthoptera
Orthoptera
Orthoptera is an order of insects with paurometabolous or incomplete metamorphosis, including the grasshoppers, crickets and locusts.Many insects in this order produce sound by rubbing their wings against each other or their legs, the wings or legs containing rows of corrugated bumps...

. These crickets are in subfamily Gryllinae of family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Gryllidae.

They hatch in spring, and the young crickets
Cricket (insect)
Crickets, family Gryllidae , are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets . They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets...

 (called nymphs
Nymph (biology)
In biology, a nymph is the immature form of some invertebrates, particularly insects, which undergoes gradual metamorphosis before reaching its adult stage. Unlike a typical larva, a nymph's overall form already resembles that of the adult. In addition, while a nymph moults it never enters a...

) eat and grow rapidly. They shed their skin (molt
Ecdysis
Ecdysis is the moulting of the cuticula in many invertebrates. This process of moulting is the defining feature of the clade Ecdysozoa, comprising the arthropods, nematodes, velvet worms, horsehair worms, rotifers, tardigrades and Cephalorhyncha...

) 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
Grasshopper
The grasshopper is an insect of the suborder Caelifera in the order Orthoptera. To distinguish it from bush crickets or katydids, it is sometimes referred to as the short-horned grasshopper...

 eggs, pupae of Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...

 (moth
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...

s and butterflies
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...

) and Diptera (flies
Fly
True flies are insects of the order Diptera . They possess a pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax...

). Occasionally they may rob spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...

s of their prey.

"Field cricket" is a common name for Gryllus assimilis, G. bimaculatus
Gryllus bimaculatus
Gryllus bimaculatus is one of many cricket species known as the Field cricket. Also known as the African or Mediterranean field cricket or as the two-spotted cricket, it can be discriminated from other Gryllus species by the two dot-like marks on the base of its wings.This species of cricket is...

, G. campestris
Gryllus campestris
Gryllus campestris is one of many crickets known as the Field cricket. These insects are dark colored and slightly less than one inch in length. The males range from 19 to 23 mm and the females from 17 to 22 mm....

, G. firmus, G. pennsylvanicus
Gryllus pennsylvanicus
Gryllus pennsylvanicus is one of many cricket species known as the field cricket. It occurs throughout eastern North America, including southern Canada.-Identification:...

, G. rubens
Gryllus rubens
Gryllus rubens, commonly known as the Southeastern Field Cricket, is one of many cricket species known as a field cricket. It occurs throughout most of the Southeastern United States...

, and G. texensis
Gryllus texensis
Gryllus texensis is a species of field cricket identified by William H. Cade and Otte in . Cade and Otte clarify that field crickets collected in the Southeastern United States from Florida to Texas identified as Gryllus integer, were in fact misidentified, and should have been classified as G....

, along with other members of various genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 including Acheta
Acheta
Acheta is a genus of field crickets. It most notably contains the house cricket Acheta domesticus.-Species:*Acheta angustiuscula*Acheta arabica*Acheta brevipennis*Acheta chudeaui*Acheta confalonierii*Acheta domesticus...

, Gryllodes, Gryllus
Gryllus
Gryllus is a genus of crickets. Members of the genus are typically 15–31 mm long and darkly coloured . Species are usually recognised by their life histories and by their song .-Species:The genus contains the following species :...

, and Teleogryllus.

Acheta domesticus, the House cricket
House cricket
Acheta domesticus, commonly called the house cricket, is a cricket most likely native to Southwestern Asia, but has spread worldwide...

, 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.

Identification

Field crickets are normally 15–25 mm (0.590551181102362–0.984251968503937 ) in size, depending on the species, and can be black, red or brown in colour. While both males and females have very similar basic body plans, each has its own distinguishing feature(s).

Females can be identified by the presence of an ovipositor
Ovipositor
The ovipositor is an organ used by some animals for oviposition, i.e., the laying of eggs. It consists of a maximum of three pairs of appendages formed to transmit the egg, to prepare a place for it, and to place it properly...

, a spike-like appendage, about 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) long, on the hind end of the abdomen between two cerci
Cercus
Cerci are paired appendages on the rear-most segments of many arthropods, including insects and arachnids but not crustaceans. Cerci often serve as sensory organs, but they may also be used as weapons or copulation aids, or they may simply be vestigial structures.Typical cerci may appear to be...

. This ovipositor allows the female to bury her fertilized eggs into the ground for protection and development. In some female field crickets, species can be distinguished by comparing the length of the ovipositor to the length of the body (i.e.G. rubens has a longer ovipositor than G.texensis)

Males are distinguished from females by the absence of an ovipositor. At the end of the abdomen there are simply two cerci. Unlike females, however, males are able to produce sounds or chirps. Thus, males can be identified through sound while females cannot.

Diagram A shows the male cricket with its wings raised for the purpose of chirping. Diagram B shows the female cricket, identified via the long protruding ovipositor at the end of the abdomen. D and E show the female using the ovipositor to deposit the fertilized eggs into the ground. Diagram C shows a topical and side view of nymphs with no protrusion at the hind of the abdomen.

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 cricket
House cricket
Acheta domesticus, commonly called the house cricket, is a cricket most likely native to Southwestern Asia, but has spread worldwide...

s, which can adapt themselves to indoor conditions, the field cricket will die by early winter. Consequently, field crickets in temperate regions exhibit diapause
Diapause
Diapause is the delay in development in response to regularly and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions. It is considered to be a physiological state of dormancy with very specific initiating and inhibiting conditions...

.

Tribes and genera

Gryllinae is divided into three tribes and a number of genera are not placed within those tribes.

Subfamily Gryllinae
Tribe Gryllini
  • Genus Acanthogryllus
  • Genus Acanthoplistus
  • Genus Acheta
    Acheta
    Acheta is a genus of field crickets. It most notably contains the house cricket Acheta domesticus.-Species:*Acheta angustiuscula*Acheta arabica*Acheta brevipennis*Acheta chudeaui*Acheta confalonierii*Acheta domesticus...

  • Genus Agryllus
  • Genus Anurogryllus
  • Genus Conatrullus
  • Genus Conogryllus
  • Genus Damaracheta
  • Genus Depressogryllus
  • Genus Doroshenkoa
  • Genus Gialaia
  • Genus Gryllus
    Gryllus
    Gryllus is a genus of crickets. Members of the genus are typically 15–31 mm long and darkly coloured . Species are usually recognised by their life histories and by their song .-Species:The genus contains the following species :...

  • Genus Gymnogryllus
  • Genus Hemitrullus
  • Genus Macrogryllus
  • Genus Megalogryllus
  • Genus Melanogryllus
  • Genus Mimicogryllus
  • Genus Nigrogryllus
  • Genus Plebeiogryllus
  • Genus Poliogryllus
  • Genus Scapsipedoides
  • Genus Scapsipedus
  • Genus Sigagryllus
  • Genus Sphecogryllus
  • Genus Squamigryllus
  • Genus Tartarogryllus
  • Genus Teleogryllus
  • Genus Trullus
  • Genus Tympanogryllus
  • Genus Urogryllus
  • Genus Vietacheta

Tribe Modicogryllini
  • Genus Angolagryllus
  • Genus Apedina
  • Genus Apterocryncus
  • Genus Apterosvercus
  • Genus Aritella
  • Genus Astrupia
  • Genus Buangina
  • Genus Comidogryllus
  • Genus Cophogryllus
  • Genus Crynculus
  • Genus Cyrtoprosopus
  • Genus Gryllodes
  • Genus Gryllopsis
  • Genus Kurtguentheria
  • Genus Lepidogryllus
  • Genus Loxoblemmus
  • Genus Mitius
  • Genus Modicogryllus
  • Genus Modicoides
  • Genus Mombasina
  • Genus Nimbagryllus
  • Genus Pictorina
  • Genus Rufocephalus
  • Genus Svercacheta
  • Genus Tugainus
  • Genus Tumpalia
  • Genus Velarifictorus
  • Genus Yarrita

Tribe Sciobiini
  • Genus Holoblemmus
  • Genus Sciobia

Tribe Incertae sedis
Incertae sedis
, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...

  • Genus Allogryllus
  • Genus Callogryllus
  • Genus Chopardia
  • Genus Clearidas
  • Genus Coiblemmus
  • Genus Conoblemmus
  • Genus Cryncus
  • Genus Ganoblemmus
  • Genus Goniogryllus
  • Genus Gryllita
  • Genus Gryllodeicus
  • Genus Grylloderes
  • Genus Hispanogryllodes
  • Genus Itaropsis
  • Genus Kazuemba
  • Genus Meristoblemmus
  • Genus Miogryllus
  • Genus Nemobiodes
  • Genus Oediblemmus
  • Genus Oligachaeta
  • Genus Omogryllus
  • Genus Paraloxoblemmus
  • Genus Parasciobia
  • Genus Parasongella
  • Genus Qingryllus
  • Genus Rubrogryllus
  • Genus Songella
  • Genus Stephoblemmus
  • Genus Stilbogryllus
  • Genus Svercoides
  • Genus Thiernogryllus
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