Wildlife Guide · Africa & Asia
Cricket
Gryllidae
The chirping insect of warm evenings
Image: Photo: Prescott Pym on Flickr / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
In brief
Crickets are jumping insects closely related to grasshoppers, best known for the chirping sound males make to attract mates. They are mostly active at night and feed on plants, fungi, and small insects.
By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated
Crickets are jumping insects closely related to grasshoppers, best known for the chirping sound males make to attract mates. They are mostly active at night and feed on plants, fungi, and small insects. Crickets are also widely raised as food for pets and, increasingly, for people. Most live for about a year or less.
0.025 m
Typical length
1 g
Typical weight
5 km/h
Top speed
1 yrs
Lifespan
Figures sourced from Wikipedia — Cricket, Wikidata — Cricket .
Cricket: Quick Facts
| Scientific name | Family Gryllidae |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore (plants, fungi, small insects) |
| Habitat | Grasslands, forests, gardens, buildings |
| Lifespan | About 1 year or less |
| Size | About 1–5 cm depending on species |
| Sound | Males chirp by rubbing their wings |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Orthoptera |
| Family | Gryllidae |
Conservation Status
- IUCN Status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List category)
- Population
- Global population not compiled for this guide
- Trend
- See the IUCN Red List assessment
- Assessed
- See the IUCN Red List assessment
- CITES
- See CITES appendices
Conservation figures are drawn from the IUCN Red List and CITES; this guide links to the authoritative sources rather than restating population counts.
Key Facts: Cricket
- The chirping associated with crickets is made mostly by males, who rub a sharp edge on one wing against a rough surface on the other, a process called stridulation.
- Crickets are omnivores that eat plant matter, fungi, and small insects, scavenging a wide range of foods.
- Crickets are raised in large numbers as a reliable food source for pet reptiles, amphibians, and birds, and they are increasingly farmed as a protein source for human food in some regions.
The familiar chirp
The chirping associated with crickets is made mostly by males, who rub a sharp edge on one wing against a rough surface on the other, a process called stridulation. The calls attract females and warn off rival males. Because chirping rate rises with temperature, the calls can even give a rough sense of how warm it is.
Diet and behavior
Crickets are omnivores that eat plant matter, fungi, and small insects, scavenging a wide range of foods. They are mostly active at night, hiding by day under stones, logs, or vegetation. Like their grasshopper relatives, crickets have strong hind legs and can jump to escape danger.
Crickets and people
Crickets are raised in large numbers as a reliable food source for pet reptiles, amphibians, and birds, and they are increasingly farmed as a protein source for human food in some regions. In several cultures their chirping is seen as a pleasant sound or even a sign of good luck.
Life cycle and habitat
Crickets develop through incomplete metamorphosis, hatching as nymphs that resemble small wingless adults and molting as they grow. They live in grasslands, forests, gardens, and sometimes inside buildings, and are found across much of the world in warmer climates.
What WARN Does
WARN does not run a dedicated cricket programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The cricket is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the cricket supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.
How does the cricket compare?
Cricket: Frequently Asked Questions
Why do crickets chirp?
What do crickets eat?
How long do crickets live?
Can you eat crickets?
Do crickets bite?
What is the difference between a cricket and a grasshopper?
Where do crickets live?
Are crickets dangerous?
How big is a cricket?
Sources & References
Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.
Terms used on this page
Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.
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