Southern Wood Cricket
Gryllus fultoni
This record describes Gryllus fultoni (species). Recorded family: Gryllidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Head narrower than pronotum; cerci usually yellow in life; hind wings always short; tegmina brown and black Very similar to Gryllus vernalis , and differing somewhat in habitat preference, song, etc.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Gryllidae (True Crickets)
- Subfamily
- Gryllinae
- Genus
- Gryllus (Field Crickets)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Leaf litter in woods; occasionally in roadside grasses
Geographic Range
much of southeastern United States east from Texas and Oklahoma and south from Missouri, Ohio Valley, and about Maryland.
Seasonal Activity
Overwinters as a late juvenile and matures in spring
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Gryllus fultoni. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Orthoptera includes ~28,000 described species of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Desert locusts can form swarms covering 460 square miles containing up to 80 million individuals per square kilometer.
Ecological role of the group
Grasshoppers and crickets are a primary food source for birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Cricket farming is a growing industry - crickets require 12× less feed than cattle to produce the same amount of protein, using 2,000× less water.
Economic and practical significance of the group
A single large locust swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. The 2019-2021 East Africa locust crisis affected food security for 42 million people across multiple countries. Global crop losses from locusts can reach billions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, UN World Food Programme, research publications. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Southern Wood Cricket (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Wood Cricket
What is Southern Wood Cricket?
Southern Wood Cricket (Gryllus fultoni) is a species in the family Gryllidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Southern Wood Cricket?
Head narrower than pronotum; cerci usually yellow in life; hind wings always short; tegmina brown and black
Where is Southern Wood Cricket found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Leaf litter in woods; occasionally in roadside grasses |
| Range | much of southeastern United States east from Texas and Oklahoma and south from Missouri, Ohio Valley, and about Maryland. |
When is Southern Wood Cricket active?
Southern Wood Cricket: seasonal activity - Overwinters as a late juvenile and matures in spring.