 Acheta
assimilis
Field crickets are found
throughout the United States and southern Canada. They live in or on the
ground in bushes, and feed on plant parts or animal matter. They are mostly
nocturnal, and males are heard singing on summer nights. They may invade
structures when the grasses dry out or during periods of cricket abundance.
Field crickets are apparently not able to adapt themselves to conditions
in houses and eventually die.
Recognition
Field crickets have
large heads, with long threadlike antennae and spear-shaped ovipositors.
They vary in length from 3/5 to 1 inch. The color is usually dark brown
to gray to black, but occasionally light brown specimens are seen. This
species flies and jumps well. Wings are fully developed. Hearing organs
occur on both sides of the front tibia. Their "music" is made by vibrating
the upper wings against each other. Only the adult male makes the chirping
noise. Females and young are unable to chirp.
Life Cycle
Field crickets lay their
eggs singly at shallow depths in the ground in late August and September.
They may lay anywhere from 150 to 400 eggs. Most of the eggs overwinter
in the ground and hatch in May and June.
The newly hatched cricket
can walk, run and jump immediately. It passes through from 8 to 10 stages
of growth (instars) before becoming an adult in 78 to 90 days. Hibernation
occurs in the egg stage and, to a lesser degree, in the nymphal stage in
the 5th and 6th instars. Adults appear in July and August, mate, and usually
die when the first cold weather sets in.
Field crickets can
damage ornamental plants and shrubs. In homes, they damage textiles (cotton,
linen, wool, and silk) as well as fur. Clothing and paper, especially if
stained or soiled, are liable to injury. Even nylon, wood, plastic, leather,
and thin rubber goods can be damaged.
Links:
Checklist
of Crickets North of Mexico
Click here
to recommend a link.
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