Fall Field Cricket – 8/26/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein

Observation Date: 8/26/19

Observation Time: 1:30 p.m.

Observation Location: my back yard (Gavins Pond Road)

Common Name: Fall Field Cricket

Scientific Name: Gryllus pennsylvanicus

Comments: All field crickets are able to make the universally recognizable cricket, “chirping” sounds. Males, though, are able to make the loudest and most noticeable sounds. The chirping is generated by the movement of “scrapers” found on the edge of the left forewing across a row of teeth-like structures located on the underside of the right forewing. The male field cricket generates a three note, highly trilled song which is answered by a more simplified, two note female song. The rate of chirping is directly influenced by temperature. Counting the number of chirps a male field cricket makes in 13 seconds, and then adding 40 to that number generates an approximate index of the environmental temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit).

I spotted this common insect while mowing the lawn.

More Information: The Virtual Nature Trail at Penn State New Kensington