Cricket

Crickets belong to the family Gryllidae, order Orthoptera, and are close relatives of grasshoppers and katydids within the same order. Thousands of species are found worldwide.

The group is distinguished from grasshoppers by very long, thread-like antennae and a somewhat flattened body form, and is culturally notable for its chirping songs, which have long been associated with warm summer and autumn evenings in many parts of the world.

Crickets play a role in food webs both as omnivorous consumers of plant material and detritus and as prey for birds, amphibians, and other insectivores.

• Rounded head and cylindrical to slightly flattened body
• Long, thread-like antennae, often longer than the body — a key trait separating crickets from grasshoppers
• Large hind legs adapted for jumping
• Males have raised, veined forewings used to produce sound (stridulation)
• Typically brown or black; body length roughly 12–25 mm

Found nearly worldwide in temperate and tropical regions. Common in grassy fields, gardens, lawns, and woodland edges, and frequently found sheltering in basements, garages, or under logs, stones, and leaf litter. Most active from late spring through fall, generally at night.

Males produce their characteristic chirping song by rubbing a scraper on one forewing against a file on the other forewing (stridulation), used to attract females and establish territory. Diet is omnivorous, including plant material, seeds, and occasionally other small insects. Primarily nocturnal, and serves as an important prey item for birds, amphibians, and other insectivores within its ecosystem.

Incomplete metamorphosis. Females of many species use a needle-like ovipositor to lay eggs in soil. Nymphs resemble small, wingless adults and develop through several molts over weeks to months. Most species produce one to two generations per year, with many overwintering as eggs in the soil.