Description:
Adult field and house crickets are recognizable because of the sword-like ovipositor at the end of the abdomen in addition to the two cerci, and fully developed wings. Field crickets are dark brown to black crickets, about 1 inch long. House crickets are smaller (about 3/4 inch long) and yellowish-brown with three dark bands on the head and prothorax. Adult tree crickets are whitish to light green; slender bodied with long antennae. Snowy tree crickets have black spots on the first 2 antennal segments.
Damage:
Field crickets feed on plant material cutting irregular notches in leaves. Oviposition activities of snowy crickets injure twigs and branches and can introducing certain plant diseases (i.e. canker-forming fungi).
Life cycle:
Females deposit eggs in moist soil or sand. Eggs hatch in 15 to 25 days. Nymphs develop through 5 instars to adults in about 12 weeks. As many as 3 generations may be produced per year in southern Texas. Overwinters as eggs in cold climates and as nymphs in warmer areas. Adult males chirp to mark territory and attract females.
