Field cricket

Field cricket

Taxobox
name = Field cricket


image_width = 220px
image_caption = The common black cricket, "Gryllus assimilis"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Orthoptera
subordo = Ensifera
superfamilia = Grylloidea
familia = Gryllidae
subfamilia = Gryllinae
subfamilia_authority = Saussure, 1893
subdivision_ranks = Genus
subdivision = 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.

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.

Gallery

Pictures of molting female field cricket. NOTE: Her right wing is missing.

External links

* [http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/crickets/field/index.html Informal field cricket source]
* [http://www.gpnc.org/field1.htm Informal article about "Gryllus assimilis"]
* [http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/index.htm Singing Insects of North America - "an online field guide"]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Field cricket — Field Field (f[=e]ld), n. [OE. feld, fild, AS. feld; akin to D. veld, G. feld, Sw. f[ a]lt, Dan. felt, Icel. fold field of grass, AS. folde earth, land, ground, OS. folda.] 1. Cleared land; land suitable for tillage or pasture; cultivated ground; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • field cricket — noun common American black cricket; attacks crops and also enters dwellings • Syn: ↑Acheta assimilis • Hypernyms: ↑cricket • Member Holonyms: ↑Acheta, ↑genus Acheta …   Useful english dictionary

  • field cricket — /ˈfild krɪkət/ (say feeld krikuht) noun a shiny black cricket, Teleogryllus commodus, which is injurious to crops and pastures …  

  • field cricket. — See under cricket1 (def. 1). [1590 1600] * * * …   Universalium

  • field cricket. — See under cricket1 (def. 1). [1590 1600] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Flowery Field Cricket Club — is located in the Flowery Field area of Hyde, Greater Manchester and was formed in 1838. It celebrated its sesquicentennial year in 1988 with a number of special matches.The club runs three senior teams together with several junior sides and has… …   Wikipedia

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  • Field — (f[=e]ld), n. [OE. feld, fild, AS. feld; akin to D. veld, G. feld, Sw. f[ a]lt, Dan. felt, Icel. fold field of grass, AS. folde earth, land, ground, OS. folda.] 1. Cleared land; land suitable for tillage or pasture; cultivated ground; the open… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Field artillery — Field Field (f[=e]ld), n. [OE. feld, fild, AS. feld; akin to D. veld, G. feld, Sw. f[ a]lt, Dan. felt, Icel. fold field of grass, AS. folde earth, land, ground, OS. folda.] 1. Cleared land; land suitable for tillage or pasture; cultivated ground; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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