Robust Ground Crickets

Allonemobius

Classification

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

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Allonemobius: /ˌæl.oʊ.nɛˈmoʊ.bi.əs/

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

Images

Allard's Ground Cricket (Allonemobius allardi) - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 2014-09-13 (01) by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Allard's Ground Cricket (Allonemobius allardi) - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 2014-09-13 (02) by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Striped Ground Cricket (Allonemobius fasciatus) - Guelph, Ontario 2013-08-27 by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Tinkling Ground Cricket - Allonemobius tinnulus, Hall Creek Natural Resource Area, Calvert County, Maryland (38175392756) by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Allonemobius socius by Robert Webster. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

Allonemobius is a genus of robust ground crickets found in various habitats across North America, known for their distinctive size and ecological role as herbivores and prey for larger animals.

Physical Characteristics

Robust ground crickets are characterized by their stout bodies and strong hind legs, adapted for jumping. They have a hard exoskeleton typically with mottled brown or gray coloration for camouflage.

Identification Tips

To identify Allonemobius species, look for their relatively large size compared to other crickets, distinct body coloration patterns, and the shape and size of their wings which can vary between species.

Habitat

These crickets thrive in a variety of habitats including grasslands, fields, and open forests, often found in moist environments under debris, rocks, or leaf litter.

Distribution

Allonemobius species are distributed from Canada to Mexico.

Diet

Allonemobius species are primarily herbivorous, feeding on a variety of plant materials including leaves, stems, and seeds.

Life Cycle

Like many crickets, Allonemobius undergoes an incomplete metamorphosis, developing from the egg stage to nymph and finally to adult, with several molts occurring during the nymph stage.

Reproduction

Reproduction in Allonemobius involves the male singing to attract females. Mating typically occurs during warm months, and females will lay eggs in the ground or in plant material.

Predators

Allonemobius species are preyed upon by various birds, small mammals, and other predatory insects.

Ecosystem Role

As herbivores, they contribute to plant material decomposition and serve as prey for a variety of higher trophic levels, thus playing an important role in their ecosystems.