Field Crickets

Gryllinae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Infraorder: Gryllidea
Family: Gryllidae
Subfamily: Gryllinae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Gryllinae: /ˈɡrɪlɪniː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Gryllus assimilis (4316821328) by Diogo Rodrigues Gonçalves from São Bernardo do Campo, Brasil. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Field cricket at Mechode Padur by വരി വര. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Anurogryllus arboreus by Arturo Santos. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Steppengrille Gryllus assimilis by Holger Krisp. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Gryllus ovisopis female 01a 01 by Kevinjudge. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Acheta domesticus, zirpendes Männchen by Geyersberg, Professor emeritus Hans Schneider. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Summary

Gryllinae, or field crickets, are a subfamily of insects in the order Orthoptera and the family Gryllidae, consisting of 20 species in 7 genera found north of Mexico.

Physical Characteristics

Field crickets are normally 15–25 millimetres (0.6–1.0 in) in size, depending on the species, and can be black, red or brown in color. Males produce sound or chirps, while females have a spike-like ovipositor about 0.75 inches (19 mm) long for egg-laying.

Identification Tips

Females can be identified by the presence of an ovipositor, while males can be identified by their ability to chirp. Species can be distinguished by comparing the length of the ovipositor to the length of the body.

Habitat

Field crickets prefer warm and humid outdoor environments with moist rich soil, but they can migrate into human structures during cooler conditions.

Distribution

North of Mexico, with specific species distribution across different regions such as southeastern, southwestern U.S., and the entire U.S.

Diet

Field crickets eat a broad range of food, including seeds, plants, and other insects (dead or alive), and they are known to feed on grasshopper eggs and the pupae of Lepidoptera and Diptera.

Life Cycle

Field crickets hatch in spring as nymphs that eat and grow rapidly, shedding their skin eight or more times before becoming adults.

Reproduction

Females look for suitable locations in warm damp soil to lay fertilized eggs after mating.

Ecosystem Role

Field crickets play a role in the ecosystem as both herbivores and predators, consuming grasshopper eggs and larvae, contributing to the food web.

Economic Impact

Acheta domesticus and Gryllus bimaculatus are raised in captivity for use as pets.

Misconceptions

Field crickets are sometimes confused with house crickets, which can adapt to indoor conditions, whereas field crickets generally die out without access to moist soil for egg-laying.