Crickets

Family Gryllidae

Northern field cricket (Gryllus pennsylvanicus). Photo:Stephanie Boucher

Some species are omnivorous, others are mainly phytophagous. The field crickets are very common in pastures, meadows, along roadsides, in yards and they are known to enter houses. Some species are crop pests, destroying plant roots and shoots. Male crickets produce sounds by rubbing their front wings together. Crickets detect songs using a tympanum on the front leg. Crickets range in colour from black, brown, gray to yellowish. The front wings are bent down sharply at the sides of the body. They are usually fully winged, but wings are sometimes absent. Females have a long ovipositor.

Distribution of Northern field cricket (Gryllus pennsylvanicus) in Canada