Spring Field Cricket
Gryllus veletis
This record describes Gryllus veletis (species). Recorded family: Gryllidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A black spring cricket of cold winter regions. Very like G. pennsylvanicus. G. firmus , and at least a few southwestern species (some still unnamed), and virtually impossible to tell from them except by where found, what time of year, and sometimes by habitat. Some can be identified (at least males) by anatomical examination with specimens in hand.
Wikipedia reference for Gryllus veletis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gryllus_veletis.
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
Roughly northern half of US, south to New Mexico in Rockies and Georgia and Missouri in Ozarks and Applachians.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
eggs hatch late in the warm season and overwinter as nymphs (mostly about half to nearly completely grown). They mature early in the spring and are the most common (or only) large black cricket with a musical slow(ish) chirp in the spring in many regions.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Gryllus veletis. 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 Spring Field Cricket (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Spring Field Cricket
What is Spring Field Cricket?
Spring Field Cricket (Gryllus veletis) is a species in the family Gryllidae, within the order Orthoptera.
Where is Spring Field Cricket found?
Range: Roughly northern half of US, south to New Mexico in Rockies and Georgia and Missouri in Ozarks and Applachians.
What is the life cycle of a Spring Field Cricket?
eggs hatch late in the warm season and overwinter as nymphs (mostly about half to nearly completely grown). They mature early in the spring and are the most common (or only) large black cricket with a musical slow(ish) chirp in the spring in many regions.