Northern Wood Cricket

Gryllus vernalis

Classification

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

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Gryllus vernalis: //ˈɡrɪl.lus vɛrˈnaː.lɪs//

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

Summary

Gryllus vernalis, the northern wood cricket, is a species native to the midwestern United States, commonly found in upland areas of deciduous woods, and it is the smallest species of Gryllus on average in the US.

Physical Characteristics

Totally black exoskeleton (with occasional red patch on the femora), pronotum of male widest near posterior border, head of male narrower than pronotum, width not over 4.7 mm, body length 9.5-15.5 mm, micropterous.

Identification Tips

Male song consists of long series of fairly rapid short musical 'chirps'.

Habitat

Deciduous woods, primarily in leaf litter.

Distribution

Eastern Texas to northern Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio.

Life Cycle

Adults from early May to midsummer; nymphs overwinter.

Similar Taxa

Gryllus fultoni

Misconceptions

Not particularly northern, but more northern and/or upland than Gryllus fultoni.