Crickets

Definition

Members of the superfamily Grylloidea, a group of orthopteran insects characterized by enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping, long filamentous antennae, and sound production via stridulation of modified forewings (tegmina) in males. Contemporary taxonomy places crickets as distinct from bush-crickets (Tettigoniidae) and grasshoppers (Caelifera), though the term 'cricket' has historically been applied more broadly to various ensiferan taxa including mole crickets (Gryllotalpidae) and king crickets (Anostostomatidae).

Etymology

From Middle English criket, of imitative origin reflecting the male's chirping call

Example

Field crickets (Gryllus spp.) deposit eggs in soil using their elongated, needle-like ovipositors, a trait distinguishing them from the shorter ovipositors of most grasshoppers.

Synonyms

• grylloids

Related Terms

• Ensifera
• Orthoptera
• bush crickets
• Mole crickets
• stridulation
• tegmen
• ovipositor
• grasshoppers

Usage Notes

In strict modern usage, 'crickets' refers specifically to Grylloidea; however, vernacular and older literature often applies the term loosely to any ensiferan with a cylindrical body and jumping hind legs. Contrast with 'bush crickets' (Tettigoniidae), which have extremely long antennae exceeding body length, and 'grasshoppers' (Caelifera), which have short antennae and tympanal organs on the first abdominal segment rather than the foretibia.