Western Trilling Cricket
Gryllus integer
This record describes Gryllus integer (species). Recorded family: Gryllidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | In much of the southwest, the only Gryllus with a nearly continuous trilling song . Overlaps distribution to east with basically identical G. texensis (mostly in western Texas), and distinction is problematic (perhaps often impossible) there. This species is supposed to have a slightly different song than G. texensis , but that distinction is weak, as the song can vary somewhat with the individual, and with the conditions under whith it is singing (weather, lighting, presence or absence of other individuals, etc.). Typically a blackish Cricket (both above and below), but with tegmina and base of hind legs often lighter (brownish or sometimes reddish). |
| Head | Head usually narrower than pronotum (viewed from above) in both male and female. |
| Pronotum | Pronotum usually somewhat pilose. Most individuals are long-winged, but may shed wings when molested (and then can be mistaken as short-winged due to lack of hind wings). It does not shed wings as readily as several other species though. |
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
Geographic Range
Southwestern; from southern Oregon into western Kansas & Texas and southward into Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Has multiple generations in south, most common in spring and sometimes again in late summer further north. Probably overwinters as nymphs (maybe in other stages also where winters are mild).
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Gryllus integer. 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 Western Trilling Cricket (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Western Trilling Cricket
What is Western Trilling Cricket?
Western Trilling Cricket (Gryllus integer) is a species in the family Gryllidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Western Trilling Cricket?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | In much of the southwest, the only Gryllus with a nearly continuous trilling song . Overlaps distribution to east with basically identical G. texensis (mostly in western Texas), and distinction is problematic (perhaps often impossible) there. This species is supposed to have a slightly different song than G. texensis , but that distinction is weak, as the song can vary somewhat with the individual, and with the conditions under whith it is singing (weather, lighting, presence or absence of other individuals, etc.). Typically a blackish Cricket (both above and below), but with tegmina and base of hind legs often lighter (brownish or sometimes reddish). |
| Head | Head usually narrower than pronotum (viewed from above) in both male and female. |
| Pronotum | Pronotum usually somewhat pilose. Most individuals are long-winged, but may shed wings when molested (and then can be mistaken as short-winged due to lack of hind wings). It does not shed wings as readily as several other species though. |
Where is Western Trilling Cricket found?
Range: Southwestern; from southern Oregon into western Kansas & Texas and southward into Mexico.
When is Western Trilling Cricket active?
Western Trilling Cricket: seasonal activity - Has multiple generations in south, most common in spring and sometimes again in late summer further north. Probably overwinters as nymphs (maybe in other stages also where winters are mild)..