Gryllus bimaculatus
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| Gryllus bimaculatus | |
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| Gryllus bimaculatus | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Orthoptera |
| Family: | Gryllidae |
| Genus: | Gryllus |
| Species: | Gryllus bimaculatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer, 1773 |
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Gryllus bimaculatus is one of many cricket species known as the Field cricket. Also known as the African or Mediterranean field cricket or as the two-spotted cricket, it can be discriminated from other Gryllus species by the two dot-like marks on the base of its wings.
This species of cricket is popular for use as a food source for insectivorous animals like spiders and reptiles. They are easy to raise and do not require prolonged exposure to cold temperatures in order to complete their life cycle.
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[edit] Behaviour
[edit] Fighting
In the wild, male crickets do not tolerate one another and will fight until there is a winner. The loser usually retreats without serious injury. The fighting method involve opening the mandibles as wide as possible, gripping onto the opponent's mandibles and pushing with the hind legs. There is a strange behavior involving flight - this activity seems trigger its fighting spirit.
[edit] Chirping
Male crickets of this species produces several distinctive chirping sounds. The sounds are made by rubbing its two outer wings together. Loud and steady chirps made during the night until dawn is to attract potential females and to warn off other males. Loud chirps with a fast frequency can be heard when a male encounters another male and is preparing to fight. It is made to scare off the other rival male. A soft clipping sound is made when there is a female nearby. It is made to encourage the female to mate.
[edit] Shelter
These crickets can be found hiding under logs, grasses, and in crevices. They can also dig holes into the ground to create homes for themselves, or live in holes created by other animals. Males are territorial and will fight off other males, but allow any number of females to coexist in the same shelter.
[edit] Cannibalism
This behavior is extremely rare, but females have been observed to cannibalize the male if there is not enough food to eat.
[edit] Circadian Rhythm
In recent studies, Pigment Dispersing Factor has been implicated in the nocturnal rhythms of crickets.
[edit] Physiology
Females have a tubular organ at the rear, known as an ovipositor, which is used to lay eggs into the ground. They lay their eggs into humid soil and the baby crickets hatch in about two weeks.
[edit] Economic importance
Gryllus bimaculatus is the main species used by suppliers of live crickets.
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