Cricket Information
Habitat
These crickets live in cool dark and damp habitats like caves, plumbing, under rocks, damp basements and inside privies.
Food
Crickets eat just about anything; they're omnivorous. You'll find them in your garden eating rotten tomatoes and other debris. They'll even eat other insects, including each other. They can also get into your house and eat paper, clothes, or anything else they feel like eating. Sometimes they'll chew on something that's wet, just to get moisture.
Life Cycle
Adult females are recognizable because of the sword-like egg laying structure in addition to the two appendages at the end of the abdomen, and their fully developed wings. Females deposit eggs in moist soil or sand. After 15 to 25 days, nymph hatch from the eggs. They resemble adults except for their smaller size and lack of wings. Nymphs develop to adults in about 12 weeks, depending on temperature. As many as three generations may be produced per year in southern areas. Winter is spent in the egg stage in cold climates and also as nymphs in warmer areas. Under cool conditions, crickets can be kept alive for an extended period of time. Adult males chirp to mark territory and attract females.
Body Parts
These are all the body parts of a cricket.
How Do Crickets Chirp?
Male crickets rub their wings together to make the "Chirping" sound. Only male cricket chirp. They chirp for 3 reasons, (1) They want to attract females. (2) To impress the female he has already attracted. (3) To warn other males to stay away.