Crickets, family Gryllidae...

.... also known as "true crickets"), are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets. They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets. They tend to be nocturnal and are often confused with grasshoppers because they have a similar body structure including jumping hind legs. Crickets are harmless to humans. Another blip, thanks to Lilly! ;-)

Their sound is commonly referred to as chirping; the scientific name is stridulation. Only the male crickets chirp. The sound is emitted by the stridulatory organ, a large vein running along the bottom of each wing, covered with "teeth" (serration) much like a comb. The chirping sound is created by running the top of one wing along the teeth at the bottom of the other wing. As he does this, the cricket also holds the wings up and open, so that the wing membranes can act as acoustical sails. It is a popular myth that the cricket chirps by rubbing its legs together. I was fortunate enough to get one picture of this one, in action, chirping away, but this one was the better photo.

Crickets are omnivorous scavengers who feed on organic materials, including decaying plant material, fungi, and some seedling plants. Crickets eat their own dead when there are no other sources of food available, and exhibit predatorial behaviour upon weakened, crippled crickets.

Crickets have relatively powerful jaws, and several species have been known to bite humans. Thanks to Wikipedia!.

Btw: BIG IS BETTER!

Comments
Sign in or get an account to comment.