Cricket

Identification

Crickets have cylindrical bodies, round heads, long antennae, and large hind legs for jumping. They are known for their distinctive chirping sounds, which they produce by rubbing their wings together. Crickets are found in almost every part of the world, and they have adapted to various habitats including Madison Wisconsin. They range in size from 3 mm to 50 mm, depending on the species. Crickets are usually brown, black, or green in color, but some species have bright markings or patterns. Crickets have two pairs of wings, but not all of them can fly. The hind wings are membranous and folded under the front wings when not in use. Crickets also have ears on their front legs, which are sensitive to vibrations and sound waves. Female crickets have a long, sword-like ovipositor at the end of their abdomen, which they use to lay eggs in the soil or other substrates.

Life Cycle

Crickets have incomplete metamorphosis, which means they go through three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The female cricket lays hundreds of eggs in the spring or summer, depending on the species and the climate. The eggs hatch after two to four weeks, and the nymphs emerge. Nymphs look like miniature adults, but they lack wings and reproductive organs. They molt several times as they grow, shedding their old exoskeletons and developing new ones. The number of molts varies from six to twelve, depending on the species. Nymphs take about two to three months to reach adulthood. Adult crickets live for another two to three months, during which they mate and reproduce.

Survival Conditions

Crickets are highly adaptable insects and thrive in forests, fields, and even in the corners of your house. Their food includes flowers, leaves, smaller insects, and sometimes the corpses of larger animals they find. Crickets are mostly nocturnal and active at night. They hide during the day under rocks, logs, leaves, or other shelters. Crickets prefer warm and moist environments, as water is crucial for their survival. They can also survive in dry and cold conditions by entering a state of dormancy or hibernation. Crickets have many predators, such as birds and spiders and use camouflage and their agility to avoid them.

Fun Facts

• Crickets are considered lucky in some cultures around the world. They symbolize happiness, prosperity, longevity, and good fortune.
• You can estimate the temperature by counting their chirps. The higher the temperature, the faster they chirp. You can use this formula to estimate the temperature in Fahrenheit: count the number of chirps in 15 seconds and add 40.
• Crickets have different songs for different purposes. They sing to attract mates, to court females, to announce their partnership, to defend their territories, and even to warn others of danger ^.
• Crickets can hear with their legs. They have tympanal organs on their lower forelegs that vibrate in response to sound waves. They can also sense vibrations through their feet.

Crickets don’t typically invade homes in the Madison area. The pest method of prevention would be to keep the moisture in your basement low with a dehumidifier and to keep your doors and windows closed. At Kwik Kill Pest Control, we offer a general insect treatment that would stop crickets that land on your home, but we don’t directly target the areas in yards that crickets typically inhabit.

Kwik Kill Services to control Crickets:

• Home Protection Program
• Insect & Rodent Combo Package
• One-Time Pest Control Services

Additional Information:

https://entomology.unl.edu/k12/crickets/temperature.htm
https://extension.umn.edu/nuisance-insects/crickets
https://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/crickets/crickets.htm