The cricket belongs to the insect family, closely related to grasshoppers, locusts, and katydids; they have a cylindrical body, a round head, and long antennae. Crickets grow quickly and are widely distributed in most countries around the world, with the highest populations found in tropical and equatorial regions.
- Common Name: Cricket
- Scientific Name: Gryllidae
- Class: Insecta
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Behavior: Social
- Size: Length of 2.5 cm, width of 0.8 cm
- Average Lifespan: Less than 2 years
Cricket’s Habitat
Similar to other species in the cricket family, most crickets live under green pastures, shrubs, debris, or in deep underground burrows.
Identifying Characteristics of Crickets
Crickets have long antennae nearly twice the width of their body.
- Average body size: An adult cricket has a body length of about 2.5 cm and a width of approximately 0.8 cm, forming a cylindrical body with a round head.
- Typically has three main characteristic colors: jet black, reddish-brown, and golden yellow.
- Crickets have 6 legs with 2 large hind legs that allow them to jump high and far.
- A notable feature of crickets is their long antennae, which are almost twice the width of their body, used for navigation and food searching every day.
- Male and female crickets can be distinguished by their wing characteristics, abdomen, and tail: male crickets have long, wide wings that are brown mixed with black, covering the entire back and slightly wrinkled, a small abdomen, and a tail with 2 short antennae; while female crickets have straighter wings, black in color, a large abdomen containing eggs, and a tail with 2 short antennae along with a long ovipositor, which is their reproductive organ.
Characteristics of Crickets’ Behavior
- Crickets are social insects with aggressive tendencies but thrive in simple environments, easily adapting to natural conditions like damp burrows or dry grasslands.
- Male crickets are very quick-tempered and competitive, often fighting with other male crickets, while female crickets are calmer.
- Crickets are nocturnal, and male crickets have loud, persistent calls to attract and court mates; female crickets do not chirp or cannot chirp.
Crickets’ Reproductive Behavior
- In nature, crickets grow, develop, and reproduce almost year-round, especially during the rainy season.
- Crickets lay eggs, with the eggs being moved from the female’s abdomen through the ovipositor into the ground.
- A female cricket can lay numerous eggs at once, and fertilized eggs will hatch into nymphs after 9-12 days; on average, a female cricket can produce about 2,000 nymphs. The young typically hatch in spring and mature after a few weeks (usually from 40-45 days) and begin reproducing when they are 50-55 days old.
Crickets’ Diet
Crickets can eat all types of grass.
Crickets are omnivorous insects; they can eat all types of grass, including both fresh and dry grass, young shoots, sweet potato leaves, cassava leaves, papaya leaves, water spinach, watermelon rinds, cucumbers, roots, etc. Additionally, they can eat finely ground grains, insects, or smaller crickets. Therefore, crickets are also classified among the species that are cannibalistic.
Proper Cricket Rearing
Crickets are relatively easy to raise, thriving in simple, uncomplicated environments; thus, cricket farming can be organized industrially. However, it is essential to ensure that the rearing environment resembles their natural habitat. Here are some methods for rearing crickets:
- Raising in plastic containers: Use containers with a capacity of about 60 liters with a lid; make sure to poke small holes in the lid for ventilation.
- Raising in Styrofoam boxes: Regularly check the condition of the box to prevent crickets from chewing through and escaping, causing losses.
- Raising in trays: Use rectangular trays and stack small boxes on top of each other.
- Raising in plastic pots: Use pots that are about 35-40 cm high and 40-50 cm wide.
Some Notes When Raising Crickets
To minimize losses when raising, ensure a spacious and airy living area…
- Crickets undergo molting, during which they are very soft and may be bitten or eaten by conspecifics. Therefore, to minimize losses during rearing, create a wide, airy living space, and consider adding some leaves or crumpled paper for crickets to climb, hide, or gnaw as needed.
- Make sure to use available items to create feeding trays for crickets; both sides must be rough to prevent crickets from climbing and spilling food. You can use available items like plastic lids, yogurt containers, or small plates with high rims for feeding. Food for crickets must be washed clean to ensure no pesticides are present.
- Ensure there is always clean water available for crickets to drink; water should be placed in a small tray, avoiding oversized trays that may cause crickets to slip and drown; also, consider using a spray bottle to mist the rearing area to maintain adequate moisture for crickets to grow and develop.
- The soil for crickets to lay eggs is usually sandy soil, or you can mix it in a ratio of 2 parts soil to 1 part sand to retain soil moisture for egg-laying.
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