Old World Ant Cricket
Myrmecophilus americanus
This record describes Myrmecophilus americanus (species). Recorded family: Myrmecophilidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Dark brown with a lighter stripe on the posterior half of mesonotum; no other North American ant cricket has this color pattern (Wetterer & Hugel 2014) Originally described from 'Colombia', but apparently native instead to tropical Asia and Melanesia (Wetterer & Hugel 2014)
Wikipedia reference for Myrmecophilus americanus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrmecophilus_americanus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Myrmecophilidae (Ant Crickets)
- Genus
- Myrmecophilus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Inquiline in the nests of the ant Paratrechina longicornis (Wetterer & Hugel 2014)
Geographic Range
Introduced; first found in the U.S. (south FL) 1989-2000
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Myrmecophilus americanus. 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 Old World Ant Cricket (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by metrioptera; Additional contributions by Graham M
Frequently Asked Questions About Old World Ant Cricket
What is Old World Ant Cricket?
Old World Ant Cricket (Myrmecophilus americanus) is a species in the family Myrmecophilidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Old World Ant Cricket?
Dark brown with a lighter stripe on the posterior half of mesonotum; no other North American ant cricket has this color pattern (Wetterer & Hugel 2014)
Where is Old World Ant Cricket found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Inquiline in the nests of the ant Paratrechina longicornis (Wetterer & Hugel 2014) |
| Range | Introduced; first found in the U.S. (south FL) 1989-2000 |