Field Cricket

Field crickets can severely damage or destroy field crops and vegetable crops, and probably get their common name from this activity. The genus Gryllus is widely distributed throughout the Americas or New World, and consists of about 25 species in the United States.

Recognition

Adults are 1-2-1 1/8 inch long. Color typically black but varies to brownish yellow or straw yellow. Antennae treadlike, much longer than body. Wings lay flat on the back. Cerci long, feelerlike. Hind leg tibial spines short, stout, and non-movable. Tarsi three-segmented. Adult female with long tubelike ovipositor located at tip of abdomen, between cerci.

Habits

Outdoors around buildings, they are typically found in moist situations such as in mulched areas, unweeded plant beds, in and around woodpiles, stones, and debris, etc. Their presence often is indicated by the males chirping, which for most species occurs during the day or at night. These sounds are made by rubbing the front wings together. His "calling song" serves to attract females. They often are attracted to electric lights in great numbers.

Field crickets can destroy field crops such as alfalfa, wheat, oats, and rye and vegetable crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, beans, etc. Huge outbreaks occasionally occur in the Midwest and South where they sometimes enter towns and cities in great swarms. They also feed on other insects and their own kind.