Cricket
Cricket (Insect)
Cricket (pronunciation: /ˈkrɪkɪt/), from the Old French criquer meaning to creak or rattle, is a type of insect that belongs to the order Orthoptera, and the family Gryllidae.
Etymology
The term "cricket" comes from the Old French criquer, which translates to "creak, rattle". This is in reference to the distinctive chirping sound that male crickets make to attract females.
Description
Crickets are small to medium-sized insects with mostly cylindrical, somewhat vertically flattened bodies. The head is spherical with long antennae. Behind the head is a smooth, robust pronotum. The abdomen ends in a pair of long cerci; females have a long, cylindrical ovipositor. The hind legs have enlarged femora, providing power for jumping. The front wings are adapted as tough, leathery elytra, and some crickets chirp by rubbing parts of these together.
Behavior
Crickets are known for their chirp (which only male crickets can do; the male wings have ridges or "teeth" that act like a "comb and file" instrument). They chirp by rubbing their wings or legs over each other, and the song is species-specific.
Related Terms
- Orthoptera: The order of insects that includes crickets, grasshoppers, and their allies.
- Gryllidae: The family of insects that crickets belong to.
- Antennae: A sensory appendage that is attached to the head of adult insects.
- Cerci: A pair of appendages at the rear of the abdomen of some insects and other arthropods.
- Ovipositor: The tube female insects use to lay their eggs.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cricket
- Wikipedia's article - Cricket
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