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The Field Crickets

These two species were once thought to be two separate broods of a single species. After careful observation and testing it was discovered that they are indeed two individual species. The Sping Field Cricket over winters as nymphs since the females are laying eggs in early summer. By the time the warm weather of springs reaches the mid-latitudes there nymphs are nearly mature. By May or early June adult Spring Field Crickets can be heard chirpping their merry tunes on sunny hillsides.

The Fall Field Cricket females are laying eggs in late summer, these eggs over winter in the ground and do not start to develope until the warm weather of spring. Fall Field Cricket nymphs now have to mature through 7 instars before reaching adulthood. That is why they are not heard singing until mid-July, they have to wait all spring and early summer to become adults.