FIELD CRICKETS

Identification, Facts, & Control

Latin Name

Stenopelmatus fuscus

Appearance

Large, striped with dark brown bands on top and is creamy yellow colored

Field Crickets

Field crickets are found throughout the United States. They range from one-half to one inch in length and their color varies between black and dark brown. The antennae of field crickets are much longer than the body. Males are easily distinguished from females by the fact that the males have only two spear like appendages protruding from the tip of the abdomen whereas females have three such appendages. The middle rear appendages of the female are actually a stiff, tubular ovipositor through which the eggs are laid. Field crickets have well developed wings and can fly and jump well.

Field crickets overwinter in the egg stage or as nymphs. Those that overwinter as nymphs become adults in May or June than die in July. Those that overwinter in the egg stage develop into adults by mid-summer and die in the fall. The females which reach adulthood in mid-summer start to lay eggs in damp areas in the ground after a few weeks have passed, starting the life cycle all over again. From 150 to 400 eggs are laid singly in shallow depths. In the warmer areas of the country (the Gulf states and desert southwest), field crickets may actively breed all year around and produce up to three generations in a single year.

Field crickets can cause considerable chewing type damage to vegetables and ornamental plants in the yard. Indoors, they have been known to chew holes in a wide range of fabrics including cotton, wool, silk and furs. Clothing and paper soiled with perspiration, food or grease are more prone to attack. Field crickets are more likely to invade homes in large numbers than any other species. Massive outbreaks occasionally occur in the Midwest, the desert southwest and in the interior valleys of California. At such times, they may impede city . traffic and wreak havoc inside of homes, restaurants, motels and office buildings. However, field crickets which wander into buildings are not able to survive for very long and usually die off by late fall or early winter.

Click on a species of cricket below to learn further information.

House Cricket