Black field cricket facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black field cricket |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Teleogryllus
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| Species: |
commodus
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| Synonyms | |
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Gryllus commodus Walker |
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The black field cricket (scientific name: Teleogryllus commodus) is a type of cricket. It comes from Australia and is also found in New Zealand. These crickets can sometimes damage plants in gardens and farms. They belong to a group of insects called Orthoptera, which includes grasshoppers and locusts.
Black field crickets have wings that fold neatly. They also have chewing mouths and long, thin antennae. Interestingly, these crickets can learn things. They can even learn to recognize different smells!
About Black Field Crickets
What Do Black Field Crickets Look Like?
Black field crickets can grow up to 30 mm long. They have long antennae and strong legs for jumping. Their bodies are usually black or brown.
Young crickets, called nymphs, have a white stripe on their belly. Adult female crickets have a long tube called an ovipositor. They use this tube to lay their eggs. Male crickets have special parts on their front wings. These parts help them make sounds. Their leathery front wings, called tegmina, are also uneven.
How Do Black Field Crickets Grow?
Black field crickets grow through three main stages. These are egg, nymph, and adult. They do not have a pupa stage like butterflies.
Nymphs go through about eight stages before becoming adults. Female crickets tend to age faster than males. Male crickets that haven't mated often live shorter lives. This is because they spend a lot of energy calling to attract females.
Where Do Black Field Crickets Live?
You can find black field crickets all over Australia and New Zealand. They first came from Australia. Over time, they were introduced to New Zealand.
These crickets can cause a lot of damage to farms and gardens. They like to live in places with rocky surfaces. They also like ground with many cracks. These spots give them shelter from the sun. Black field crickets are most active at night.
They often live in groups. This means they look for homes that other crickets already use. Adult male crickets often change their burrows. They might move every two days. This happens if there are not many females around. They also move if other males attack them often.
What Do Black Field Crickets Eat?
Black field crickets are omnivores. This means they eat both plants and other things. However, they mostly eat plants. Scientists haven't found a favorite plant for them yet.
Males and females have different food needs. Females need more protein. This helps them produce eggs. Males need more energy-rich food. This helps them make their calls.
Cricket Sounds and Behavior
How Do Crickets Reproduce?
Male crickets attract females by making special calls. They do this from their burrows. If a female is interested, she will go to the male. The male's song is very important for finding a mate.
Once a female chooses a mate, they may mate multiple times. This increases the male's chance of having offspring. After successful mating, the female produces eggs. She then releases them and they are fertilized. Finally, she uses her ovipositor to lay the eggs.
The eggs need to soak up water to grow. How fast they soak up water depends on the temperature. Warmer temperatures mean faster water absorption. When the eggs absorb water, their shells get bigger. This helps the young crickets hatch.
How Do Male Crickets Make Sounds?
Male black field crickets make mating calls using their front wings. They rub their wings together. This rubbing creates clear sounds. Fast wing movements also create sound waves. The loudest sounds happen when they close their wings.
Their calls usually start with a single chirp. Then they move to a fast, repeating pulse. Females listen for how long a male calls. A longer call can show that the male is strong and healthy. Females also prefer males that repeat their calls many times.
Males can spend up to half the night calling. But this takes a lot of energy. Calling for a long time can make a male's life shorter. The calls can also show how old a male is. Females prefer males with many repeats in their calls.
How Do Crickets Fight?
Black field crickets fight in a way similar to hermit crabs. Their fights usually start with them touching antennae. They also flare their mandibles (jaws). If neither cricket backs down, they will wrestle and bite.
The cricket that wins the fight often makes a loud sound. Touching antennae helps males show how strong they are. Even smaller or less experienced males can sometimes win against a non-physical opponent.
Who Are Their Predators?
Natural predators of black field crickets include bats and ground beetles. Crickets need to detect predators quickly to survive. Black field crickets mostly use their hearing to avoid danger. Their hearing can be affected by their surroundings.
How Do Crickets Avoid Inbreeding?
Male black field crickets use their calls to attract mates. Males that are closely related (inbred) call less often. Females prefer males that call more frequently. This means inbred males are less likely to find a mate.
A male's calling rate might show how healthy he is. It could also show how much genetic variety he has.
