Wikijunior:Bugs/Cricket

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Contents 1 What does it look like? 2 Where does it live? 3 What does it eat? 4 How does it defend itself? 5 What special behavior does it exhibit? 6 How does this bug affect people? 7 What varieties are there?

[edit] What does it look like?

A cricket is a small, often nocturnal insect. It is usually green or brown, so that it blends in with the ground. It has large back legs that it can use to make very long jumps. It also has very long feelers. Crickets are often confused with Grasshoppers because they are similar in size and body shape, but grasshoppers have shorter feelers. Crickets are well-known for their chirp, which commonly is heard at night. Male crickets use this chirp to attract mates.

[edit] Where does it live?

Crickets have a variety of habitats. Crickets can be found in trees and on or around different types of plant life. Crickets can also be found under rocks and logs in meadows, pastures and along roadsides.

[edit] What does it eat?

Crickets are omnivores and scavengers feed on leaves, flowers, bark, and seeds, but some species of cricket are predatory, feeding on other insects, snails or even small vertebrates such as snakes and lizards. Crickets also have been known to eat their own dead when there is no other source of food available.

[edit] How does it defend itself?

The main predators of the cricket are frogs, lizards, tortoises, salamanders, and spiders. Crickets mainly defend themselves by hopping away from danger with their long and powerful legs. Crickets also have pretty powerful jaws, and have been known to bite humans, mostly without breaking the skin. The bite can, however, be painful on sensitive skin.

[edit] What special behavior does it exhibit?

Crickets, like all other insects, are cold-blooded. They take on the temperature of their surroundings. When a cricket's body temperature drops, so does the sound of their chirping. Crickets chirp out mating songs and their chirping can get very loud. They have ears on their legs to allow them to hear the sound of other crickets chirping.

[edit] How does this bug affect people?

Crickets are sometimes eaten by people! This occurs most commonly in Africa or Asia, where the cricket is considered a delicacy. In other places it is considered good fortune to have one in your home because of the pleasing sound they make. Crickets are also popular pets and are considered good luck in Asia.

[edit] What varieties are there?

The Great Green Bush Cricket, Speckled Bush Cricket and Wart-biter. (According to the Usborne Spotter's Guide)