Author Topic: Is a cricket a pest? (Read 4589 times)

Maddy · « **on:** August 20, 2005, 09:49:18 »

There is a nice cricket that appears to have made its home in with my peppers. I have no idea what they eat and was wondering if it's a help or a hindrance? Anyone have any specialist knowledge in this area?

M.

TEL · « **Reply #1 on:** August 20, 2005, 10:23:48 »

I don't think so but if it was a locust different story :)

redimp · « **Reply #2 on:** August 20, 2005, 12:43:50 »

They are herbivores but do so little damage that you need not worry about them. My plot has grasshoppers and crickets all over. I'm hoping they make some impact on the couch.

BAGGY · « **Reply #3 on:** August 20, 2005, 21:22:27 »

what's the difference between a grasshopper and a cricket ?

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2005, 01:10:13 »

Not much! I just had a look at Collins' insect guide, and remain none the wiser. I could use the key and run down either if I had it in hand, but I can't give you a quick definiton of either!

Travman · « **Reply #5 on:** August 21, 2005, 08:16:05 »

Cricket

Identifying Features
Appearance (Morphology)
·   Brown to black
·   Front wing varying in length, covering half to entire abdomen
·   Antennae about as long as distance from head to end of abdomen
·   Wings held flat over body
·   Hind wings folded and hidden under leathery front wings

Adult Males and Females
Female with long ovipositor (ventrally attached) in rear (may appear as two pieces); both sexes have cerci (segmented, tail-like appendages attached dorsally). The wings are fully extended over the abdomen. Some species may not have wings.
Immature (different stages)
Immature look like adults, but do not have fully developed wings. Older nymphs may show development of wing pads. The female's ovipositor begins to show before it is an adult and increases in length with each successive moult.

Natural History

Food
Crickets are omnivores and scavengers feeding on organic materials, as well as decaying plant material, fungi, and seedling plants.

Habitat
Crickets live under rocks and logs in meadows, pastures and along roadsides. Many are nocturnal.

Predators
Spiders, some wasps, ground beetles, birds, small rodents and lizards are cricket predators.

Interesting Behaviours
To attract mates, males produce a sound made by rubbing their forewings against each other. The female’s ears on her front legs pick up the resulting chirping sound. The chirp sounds are different for each species so that individuals can find their own species. Females lay eggs in the soil with their ovipositor.

Impact on the Ecosystem

Positive
Crickets breakdown plant material, renewing soil minerals. They are also an important source of food for other animals.

Negative
Crickets may injure seedlings and large numbers can be destructive. Male’s songs can be quite loud.

Grasshoppers

Identifying Features
Appearance (Morphology)
·   Brown, with some darker markings
·   Black herringbone pattern on hind femur
·   Big hind legs for jumping
·   2 pairs of wings: forewings narrow and relatively hard; hind wings large, membranous
·   Antennae not very long, 20-24 segments
·   Conspicuous eyes
·   Cerci (pair of appendages at end of abdomen) unjointed

Adult Males and Females
Males have a single unpaired plate at the end of abdomen. Female has two pairs of valves (triangle shapes) at end of abdomen used to dig in sand when egg laying.
Immixtures (different stages)
In very young stage, the grasshopper has no wings. In later stages, wings are visible as small pads at end of thorax.

Natural History

Food
Many species of grasshoppers are general herbivores feeding on a variety of plants. Some species only like grasses.

Predators
Birds, lizards, mantids, spiders, and rodents eat grasshoppers.

Interesting Behaviours

Feeding: Although they eat many things, they still have preferences. Mating behaviour: See how male courts female. Egg laying: Female digs hole with abdomen. Some grasshoppers spit a brown bitter liquid as a defensive behaviour in response to being handled. Use a piece of white paper and gently wipe the grasshopper's mouth if the spit is not evident. Before moulting, grasshoppers do not eat and become less active. During the moult, they swallow air to build up pressure to split the old cuticle.

Impact on the Ecosystem

Positive
As herbivores, grasshoppers link plants to the rest of the ecosystem. Frass (droppings) contribute to nutrient turnover by returning nutrients as fertilizer for the plants. They provide food for birds and other arthropods.

Negative
Sometimes some species of grasshopper occur in very large numbers and cause serious crop damage and loss of plants in pastures.

hope this helps ??? ??? ??? ;)

Maddy · « **Reply #6 on:** August 21, 2005, 12:14:47 »

Thanks for that Travman. Lots of info, seems that at long as it's just the odd one or two I'm OK, but I'll be keeping an eye out for swarms of them. I live alongside a lake (manmade but still beautiful) so insects are just a way of life, some nice, some not so, but I've become fascinated by them over the last few years...I used to be such a girlie girl...who'd have thunk it!

M.

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #7 on:** August 21, 2005, 18:06:21 »

If you've got a camera with macro, post a pic.

katynewbie · « **Reply #8 on:** August 21, 2005, 19:27:45 »

;D ;D ;D
Mis read this, was going to say YES..CRICKET IS A PEST!!

My nearest and dearest are obsessed with it at the moment so cannot listen to me whittering on about planting times etc.

Have now realised my mistake :-[

ellkebe · « **Reply #9 on:** August 21, 2005, 20:10:48 »

Whichever I've got - or both - I love the sound of them while I'm working at the lottie.

Mrs Ava · « **Reply #10 on:** August 21, 2005, 21:28:10 »

So what are the extremely vivid lime green ones then? Crickets or grasshoppers?

Mrs Ava · « **Reply #11 on:** August 21, 2005, 22:41:01 »

We have lots and lots of the green ones at the moment in the garden, and they are big and the kids love chasing them around!

Mubgrub · « **Reply #12 on:** August 22, 2005, 12:26:52 »

My dog eats them :-X

Travman · « **Reply #13 on:** August 22, 2005, 16:28:24 »

Could your bright green ones be these ?
(sorry no photo)

Long-winged Conehead
Conocephalus discolor
Body length 17-19mm

Slender body is bright green except for brown stripe on dorsal surface of head and pronotum; brown wings extend full length of abdomen. Female has upcurved ovipositor. Found among rushes and grasses. Found in S England; mainly coastal.

BAGGY · « **Reply #14 on:** August 22, 2005, 19:34:23 »

EJ - they're grickets or is that crass hoppers ?
My cat thinks they're yummy too.

mark_h · « **Reply #15 on:** August 22, 2005, 20:52:38 »

Is this a cricket?

Got piccies of grasshoppers as well.

Mark

redimp · « **Reply #16 on:** August 22, 2005, 20:54:30 »

Well post 'em then ;D so we can all compare.

mark_h · « **Reply #17 on:** August 22, 2005, 21:03:15 »

ok, here goes...

Mark

redimp · « **Reply #18 on:** August 22, 2005, 21:09:49 »

Ta

That one looks more like mine.

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #19 on:** August 22, 2005, 22:35:18 »

The green one looks like the Dark Bush Cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera), while the brown is harder - there are several similar-looking ones - but is probably a Chorthippus; there are two very common species. These are short-horned grasshoppers (Acrididae) , while Pholidoptera is a bush cricket (Tettigoniidae). I hope that's blinded you with enough science for one day; these insects aren't as conspicuous as butterflies, say, so they tend to be the preserve of the scientists except when they're swarming locusts!

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Author Topic: Is a cricket a pest? (Read 4589 times)