field cricket

insect

Also known as: Gryllus campestris, Liogryllus campestris, black cricket(Show More)

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

Field crickets are a type of leaping insect belonging to the family Gryllidae, known for the musical chirping of males. These insects, found worldwide, vary in size from 0.12 to 2 inches and possess long antennae, powerful hind legs for jumping, and two leathery forewings.1

Male field crickets produce their characteristic chirping sounds through a process called stridulation, where they rub a scraper on one forewing against a row of teeth on the other. Different chirps serve specific purposes, such as attracting females, courtship, or repelling rival males. While some crickets are nocturnal, field crickets, like house crickets, can chirp both day and night.12

Field crickets, often black or brown, are stout-bodied and may dig shallow burrows. They can be found in fields and yards and sometimes enter buildings. In some regions, they are used as fish bait and in biological laboratories.1

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animal behaviour
Behavioral genetics
…the calling behaviour that male crickets (Gryllus integer) use to attract females has been measured. In any one population, some males chirp away for many hours each night, others call for just a few hours, and still others almost never call. The heritability of calling duration for one Canadian population…
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…the calling behaviour that male crickets (Gryllus integer) use to attract females has been measured. In any one population, some males chirp away for many hours each night, others call for just a few hours, and still others almost never call. The heritability of calling duration for one Canadian population…
Read More

cricket
The field cricket (genus Gryllus) and the house cricket (Acheta, formerly Gryllus, domesticus) of the subfamily Gryllinae are stout-bodied and black or brown and often dig shallow burrows. They may feed on plants, animals, clothes, and each other. The field cricket (also called the black cricket)…
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The field cricket (genus Gryllus) and the house cricket (Acheta, formerly Gryllus, domesticus) of the subfamily Gryllinae are stout-bodied and black or brown and often dig shallow burrows. They may feed on plants, animals, clothes, and each other. The field cricket (also called the black cricket)…
Read More

sound reception
Behavioral observations
…carried out by Regen on field crickets (Liogryllus campestris) demonstrated the reactions of females to chirping males. In the most elaborate of these experiments, 1,600 sexually receptive females were released around the periphery of a large enclosed area in the middle of which had been placed a cage containing one…
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…carried out by Regen on field crickets (Liogryllus campestris) demonstrated the reactions of females to chirping males. In the most elaborate of these experiments, 1,600 sexually receptive females were released around the periphery of a large enclosed area in the middle of which had been placed a cage containing one…
Read More