Eco-Postcard

Ohio's field cricket, scientifically known as Gryllus pennsylvanicus, is common throughout Ohio and surrounding states. Field crickets are typically black or brown and can range in size from .5 - 1 inch (1). The field cricket lives in a variety of different habitats, but commonly prefer damp, dark areas. They can also be found in forests, grasslands, and caves (1). Almost everyone has encountered a cricket at some point in their lives since these crickets can also be found in and around homes, farms, garages, gardens, and other structures. The cricket in the picture to the left was found on a friend's porch. The cricket was injured which provided the chance to get pictures. 

Field crickets are insects with a three-sectioned body which is comprised of a hard exoskeleton which classifies them as arthropods. The three main sections include the head, the thorax, and the abdomen which can be seen in the diagram to the left (2). Starting with the head, the head contains the antennae, the compound eye, simple, eye and palpi. The antennae assist the cricket with feeling the surroundings and smelling (2). The compound eye contains a six-sided lens which helps the cricket see in more than one direction at a time (2). The simple eye is a basic single lens. The palpi are located near the mouth and help the cricket eat. The next section, the thorax, has the walking legs, which are used for walking, the jumping legs, which are used for jumping, the fore wings, and the hind wings. The fore wings are used to protect the hind wings while the hind wings are utilized by males to produce the chirping sound that is commonly associated with crickets (2). The abdomen contains the spiracles, which are vital to the respiratory system of the cricket by allowing air to enter and oxygen to be processed throughout the body (2). The abdomen also contains the cerci, which aid in feeling similar to the antennae at the head. Female crickets have an ovipositor attached to the abdomen as well. The ovipositor is used to lay eggs and is a key difference between males and females (2). The picture to the left is a detailed diagram of all the structures listed (2).

Crickets begin their lives as eggs which were deposited by the female's ovipositor into damp soil or other mediums. The egg stage lasts about 14 days until the nymph is fully developed and ready to hatch (3). The nymph stage is the next stage. At the beginning of this stage, there is no distinguishable features between males and females as the male's wings haven't developed and female's ovipositor isn't developed either (3). The nymph continues to grow and molts its skin until it reaches the adult stage. Molting can happen about 8-10 times during growth of the nymph. Molting involves shedding the old exoskeleton and allowing the new exoskeleton to harden as it is soft underneath (3). Some nymphs don't reach the adult stage because they fell prey to larger crickets and other insects. About a month after hatching, nymph's wings begin to develop (3). At the adult stage, the wings and ovipositor are fully developed and functional. The rest of the cricket's life is devoted to reproducing. The average life cycle lasts about 3 months (3). The image to the left is a diagram of the life cycle of the cricket (3).

One of the most prominent, well-known characteristics of crickets is the chirping produced by males. The male crickets chirp to draw the attention of females in order to mate and to prevent other males from entering the territory. To produce the sound, male crickets rub their hind wings together (3). The process of producing the chirping sound is called stridulation and involves the male using one wing to rub against the other (4). Each wing contains serrations which produce and project the chirp (4). Studies have found that there is a correlation between chirping and temperature. When the temperature is higher, the more the crickets chirp (4). The video to the left is of a male cricket producing chirps and the video shows how the wings rub together (5). (Click on the picture to follow to the video)

Field crickets are omnivores and have a large variety diet (1). They consume plants, seeds, fruit, and other insects.The plants that mostly comprise their diet includes crabgrass and ragweed (1). Since they can target plants and other plant parts, they can be pests to gardeners and farmers. Crickets can also invade homes and eat a variety of fabrics including cotton and leather (1). Field crickets consume large amounts of food each day in order to survive. They also consume dead plant components and dead insects which can also classify them as decomposers. In the picture to the left, a cricket was found after moving a wood plank near a garden.

Since field crickets consume dead material, they play an important role in decomposing material and returning nutrients back into the environment. The crickets are able to break down the complex plant material and produce easier to breakdown fecal matter (1). Crickets also consume the seeds and plant material of invasive plants and weeds. Crickets are food for a multitude of species including birds, turtles, toads, and other mammals, including humans(1). In the picture to the left, a cricket was spotted in a field near heavy farming machinery. 

Humans and crickets have an interesting relationship that varies depending on the culture. In the United States, crickets are used to feed pet reptiles and often viewed as pests that need to be exterminated. Other cultures consume crickets since they are high in protein. Chirping is often played in dramatic pauses in films. These have given crickets a less disgusting view in the United States. Most Americans are either fascinated or disgusted by people consuming crickets. In the picture above, a cricket has been killed and preserved in a sucker for consumption.