Fun House Cricket Facts For Kids

With Insecta being one of the largest biologically classified groups, we are surrounded by a diverse category of insects ranging from small to large-sized organisms. Amongst this vast realm of insects is the gregarious cluster of the notorious small insects of the U.S., the Acheta domesticus, commonly known as the house cricket. These tiny insects are one of the 900 known species of crickets. House cricket (Acheta domesticus) are nocturnal animals infamous for the chirping blare that this pest species produce by rubbing the appendages together. Acheta domesticus beholds a keen inclination to warm and moist environments.

Crickets have been categorized as pets in China and Japan. Read on to discover and learn some interesting facts about house cricket (Acheta domesticus). After reading the house cricket facts, do check our other articles on black carpenter ants and ambush bug facts as well.

What type of animal is a house cricket?

The house cricket, or Acheta domesticus, is an insect that belongs to one of the largest dark crossbands biologically classified groups of phylum Arthropoda. House crickets have long rear legs that help them to feed on insects, which comprise their primary diet.

What class of animal does a house cricket belong to?

The house cricket belongs to the Gryllidae family, the class Insecta, and the genus Acheta. Due to the large populations included under class Insecta, a vast diversity can be noted amongst the members of the class.

How many house crickets are there in the world?

As of the present, approximately 900 species of cricket are recognized and recorded by biologists. With the given estimations of the vast number of cricket species, distributed all over the world, it is quite difficult to provide the exact number for the global population of house crickets.

Where does a house cricket live?

Major diversity is observed in the natural habitation of house cricket. Crickets are common inhabitants of woodlands, garbage dumps, piles of wood or stones, pastures, electric poles, damp and mushy areas, along with weeds, beneath rocks and logs, sheds, house walls, etc. Acheta domesticus show an affinity to warm, damp, and moist environments.

What is a house cricket's habitat?

Acheta domesticus is the native insect of the geographical ranges of Southwestern Asia. However, crickets were globally used as feeder insects by researchers and for pet feeding.

Who do house crickets live with?

The house cricket, Acheta domesticus, is a gregarious group of insects. These Arthropods are found in clusters, wherein the small groups consist of at least five members or more, and the large groups can comprise thousands of Acheta domesticus.

How long does a house cricket live?

The average life expectancy of house cricket generally ranges between 10 to 13 weeks.

How do they reproduce?

How does a house cricket attract females? Though not much is known about the breeding procedures of house crickets, their reproductive cycles are assumed to follow similar patterns as the other members of the cricket family. The male members of the species emit specific vocal chirps and calls to woo the potential female during the courting periods. There are aggressive displays between the males in order to establish dominance; they strike each other using their antenna and mandible. During the mating, the male mounts the female partner and deposits its spermatophore along with the female genitals. The male gamete, that is, sperm, is then transferred from the spermatophore for fertilization to take place. The nesting grounds of house crickets generally include a damp substrate, insides of plants, and stems or warm cozy corners in houses and sheds. House crickets are oviparous organisms. Female members have special anatomical structures called ovipositor for laying eggs.

What is their conservation status?

House crickets are abundantly found distributed over wide ranges. As it stands today, house crickets species are classified as Not Extinct by the IUCN.

What do house crickets look like?

In accordance with the characteristics of Arthropods, the body of house crickets comprises the head, three dark coverings, thorax, and abdomen with a number of jointed appendages. Crickets possess cylindrical bodies, usually brownish or gray in color. The head is adorned with canteen and compound eyes, characterized to members of the class Insecta. Acheta domesticus exhibit crossbands on their head. The male and female members are morphologically similar. However, differences in the presence of anatomical structures are observed. For instance, females possess specialized tube-like organs for laying eggs called ovipositor that is black-brown in color, whereas paired appendage along the ventral segment of the male house cricket, that is, cerci, is comparatively more prominent than the females of the species. Juveniles lack the wings that are located in their adult relatives.

How cute are they?

Acheta domesticus cannot really be considered cute insects. With their continuous buzzing or chirping noises, they can be really irritating.

How do they communicate?

House crickets are known for their loud chirping and are often seen in flocks communicating to each other. Adult house cricket makes a loud calling song that is done to call other crickets. House crickets make these sounds even louder than common grasshoppers.

How big is a house cricket?

The adults can grow, on average, to be as big as 0.63–0.83 in (1.6-2.1 cm). This means that the male house crickets would be just about as big as a human’s toes.

How fast can house crickets move?

There are no specific details about the speeds of house crickets.

How much does a house cricket weigh?

The average weight of house cricket pests is in the range of 0.10-0.14 oz (0.0028-0.0039 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names assigned to male and female Acheta domesticus.

What would you call a baby house cricket?

Baby house crickets are usually referred to as nymphs or juveniles.

What do they eat?

Acheta domesticus are omnivorous organisms. Their diet includes seedlings, leaves, and flowers, and they feed on leaf litter and dead organisms as well as other smaller insects.

Are they harmful?

No, house crickets are not really dangerous. However, these insects are quite destructive and difficult to control. House crickets may feed on fabrics such as cotton, wool, synthetic fabrics, or wallpaper. Besides their disruptive impacts on households, Acheta domesticus can prove to be harmful due to the parasites or diseases that these pests can spread.

Would they make a good pet?

House crickets are available as prominent pet options in Japan and China. On account of their easy maintenance, inexpensive availability, harmless temperament as well as symbolizing good luck in certain cultures, house crickets prove to be fine pet options.

Did you know...

Despite their tiny size, Acheta domesticus is a popular pet option in China. However, one of the underlying reasons to own these insects is their cultural and traditional symbolization with good luck.

Can house crickets fly?

The adult members of Acheta domesticus possess a wing placed flatly on their cylindrical bodies. The wings of these pests are absolutely functional and house crickets can be observed flying towards the light sources. However, flying is not their prime mode of movement with their wings, they prefer jumping and hopping, and are occasionally known to utilize their wings for flight. These are their unique habits.

House crickets in your home

Besides the physical sighting of Acheta domesticus, especially in the warm and moist areas of the household like kitchen, trash bins, and bathrooms, signs such as the constant chirping noises, particularly during the evenings and night, destruction (such as eaten or unraveled) of fabrics like silk or wool cotton are an indication of Acheta domesticus infestation in a household. In order to control house cricket invasion, options such as vacuuming to get rid of eggs, chemical controls, proper ventilation, reduction of damp areas, as well as proper hygiene maintenance are effective measures to resort to.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods including stink bug facts, or dung beetle facts.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable House cricket bug coloring pages.

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