| Feeder Crickets Biology Modern entomologists use the term Hexapoda (hex"sah-pod'ah
- hexa
meaning six) as a more inclusive class name. Hexapods
(insects) are characterized by having three
pairs of legs. Some have wings
and the body is divided into a
head,
thorax and abdomen.
Insecta is used as a more restricted term referring to hexapods whose mouthparts are more or less exposed. Crickets belong to the
Superorder Exopterygota (eks-op-ter-i-go'tah) meaning
they are hemimetabolous or have complete matabolism and to the
Order Orthoptera
(or-thop’ter-ah) denoting long, narrow, leathery
forewings, broad membranous
hind wings and chewing
mouthparts. Basic
feeder crickets identification features include:
- Long segmented antennaes, often longer than the
body
- Two unsegmented cerci at the end of the
abdomen
- Hind legs are adapted for jumping
- Forewings are adapted to produce chirping sounds & act as sound reflectors
- Wings fold to form a box-like cover over the abdomen
- Females have long, needle- or bladelike
ovidepositors
Natural Environment
Crickets are mainly found under logs, bark, stones, cow-pats or in underground burrows. Some crickets
climb up in higher areas and are found in trees or walls of houses. Crickets are commonly found in and around houses or beneath street-poles scavenging for food.
They like to hide beneath rubble, under garbage bins or in cracks and holes in walls. Being nocturnal
(night living), they spend most of their days hiding.
Feeder Cricket Life Cycle
Hatchling crickets, or nymphs, will start to grow and molt or
shed their skin as they
get bigger. Shedding or will take place several times
during their life cycle. Metamorphosis is simple or incomplete
(hemimetabola), meaning
there is no significant change between the nymphs and the
adults. Nymphs resemble adults except for having no wings and sex organs.
Molting & Exoskeletons
All insects, including crickets poses exoskeletons
which consist of an inner, softer layer / membrane and an
outer, harder layer. The outer membrane is also referred to as
the skin. The exoskeleton supports the rest of the body and
the internal organs. The exoskeleton consists of indigestible
proteins and chitin which becomes very hard when it is
dried out. When the exoskeleton is hard, it is rigid and
cannot bend or expand. This obviously prevents insects from
growing. For insects to be able to grow, they need to shed or
molt to get rid of the outer hard layer of the exoskeleton wherafter the softer inner layer will expand according to the
new body proportions. The inner, which becomes the outer
layer, will then dry out and harden to become the new outer
protective layer.
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