What does a cricket look like: a photo of a “singing” neighbor and features of his behavior
Few people at least once in their lives were not touched by the evening "singing" of crickets, but only a few of these insects were most likely seen live. However, people who live outside the city and grow cultivated plants are familiar with them well enough and do not consider them cute insects at all.
Content
Who are crickets and what do they look like?
Name: Real crickets
Latin: GryllidaeClass: Insects - Insecta
Squad: Orthoptera - Orthoptera
 | Habitats: | garden |
 | Dangerous for: | herbs, vegetables, small insects |
 | Struggle: | prevention, deterrence |
Crickets, like grasshoppers or locusts, are included in the order of orthopterous insects. The best-known members of the cricket family are the house cricket and field cricket.
Insects have a fairly powerful body, the length of which can reach from 1,5 to 2,5 cm. The color of the body of various species can be from bright yellow to dark brown.
At the end of the body of the cricket there are two characteristic filamentous processes. Wings in some species are very well developed and are used for flight, while in others they can be completely reduced.
The head is spherical, slightly flattened in front. In the frontal part of the cricket's head there are three simple one-faceted eyes. The oral apparatus of the insect is located at the bottom of the head.
How crickets sing
Cricket.
The so-called "singing" of crickets is actually a sound way of communicating with the opposite sex. Males that have reached puberty are able to make special loud sounds to attract females. They do this thanks to the friction of the elytra.
To do this, on one of the elytra of crickets there is a chirring cord, and on the other there are special teeth. When these organs interact, insects reproduce sounds familiar to humans.
Crickets may also use their "songs" to scare away other male competitors.
Habitat of crickets
The habitat of representatives of the cricket family covers almost the entire world, but the most favorable conditions for them are high humidity and heat. The greatest diversity of species of these insects is observed in the following regions:
- Africa;
- Mediterranean;
- South America.
Cricket near his house.
In addition, you can find it in:
- North America;
- Asia;
- Europe.
On the territory of mainland Australia, the insect lives only in one southern city - Adelaide.
Lifestyle of crickets
Crickets are quite heat-loving insects and their main activity in a temperate climate falls on the warm season. Lowering the air temperature below 21 degrees Celsius makes crickets lethargic and inactive.
It was in search of shelter from the cold that some species of crickets settled next to humans.
As soon as the average daily air temperature begins to drop, people encounter these "singing" neighbors in rooms such as:
- residential buildings;
The cricket is shedding.
- garages;
- agricultural buildings;
- heated warehouses;
- industrial building.
In their natural environment, crickets are also always in search of shelters. They hide under rocks, in crevices or burrows.
What do crickets eat
These insects are almost omnivorous and adapt well to environmental conditions.
Their diet in the wild may consist of:
- herbs;
- green leaves;
- young shoots;
- small insects;
- corpses of other animals;
- ovipositors and insect larvae.
He can enjoy eating at home:
- bread crumbs;
- droplets of drinks or liquid dishes;
- the remains of fruits and vegetables;
- fish and meat waste;
- flies or any other small invertebrates found in the house.
It is worth noting that, just like grasshoppers, crickets, if necessary, can without a doubt feast on their fellows or destroy the egg-laying of their own species.
Why are crickets dangerous?
Cricket.
Despite the melodic "singing" of crickets, they are not as harmless as they seem. If enough of these insects have settled in the summer cottage, they can pose a serious threat to the future crop.
In comfortable conditions, the number of crickets can increase quite quickly and for food they are likely to prefer juicy, young seedlings in the beds, instead of weeds. Do not forget that with the onset of autumn, insects will move into the house, and such an evening “singing”, pleasant for the ears, can turn into a nightmare that does not allow you to fall asleep.
Crickets need to be controlled, especially when they have populated the entire area and are a threat. Eat 9 real ways to get rid of.
Conclusion
Crickets are without a doubt a favorite character from children's fairy tales and cartoons, but in real life they are not so harmless. People who have lived next door to them for years know firsthand how much damage they can do to crops and how loud and unpleasant their “singing” in the house can be.
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