Eastern Trilling Cricket

Gryllus rubens

Classification

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

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Gryllus rubens: /ˈɡrɪl.əs ˈruː.bɛnz/

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

Images

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

Gryllus species, U, Face, MD, PG County 2013-08-07-18.20.57 ZS PMax (9464526443) by Sam Droege from Beltsville, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Gryllus species, U, Side, MD, PG County 2013-08-07-18.25.38 ZS PMax (9464523793) by Sam Droege from Beltsville, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Gryllus species, U, Back, MD, PG County 2013-08-07-18.05.37 ZS PMax (9464522799) by Sam Droege from Beltsville, USA. Used under a Public domain license.

Summary

Gryllus rubens, known as the southeastern field cricket, exhibits significant morphological and behavioral similarities to related species and has unique adaptations to its environment.

Physical Characteristics

Morphologically indistinguishable from G. texensis; females have longer ovipositors. Exhibits wing polymorphism with long wings in spring/summer and short wings in autumn/winter. Forewings have a pale lateral field with inconspicuous veins and crossveins.

Identification Tips

Can be distinguished from G. firmus by its slower call song and wing coloration.

Habitat

Occurs in a variety of open habitats, including fields, gardens, and disturbed areas throughout the southeastern United States.

Distribution

Ranges from southern Delaware to southeastern Kansas, with a southern range from Florida to eastern Texas.

Diet

Diet includes a variety of plant materials; possesses digestive enzymes such as protease, amylase, and lipase.

Life Cycle

Typically overwinters as nymphs; adults are most abundant in spring and can potentially live year-round in warmer areas.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs in soil or plant material; short-winged females tend to oviposit earlier and with more eggs than long-winged counterparts.

Predators

Natural predators include the tachinid fly Ormia ochracea, which uses the courtship songs of G. rubens to locate and parasitize it.

Ecosystem Role

Serves as a food source for various predators and plays a role in soil aeration through its burrowing activities.

Evolution

Has a peripatric origin from a lineage of geographically subdivided ancestors of G. texensis.