Crickets and grasshoppers are indeed related insects, sharing a common evolutionary lineage. While they possess distinct characteristics, their biological classification reveals a close connection within the insect world.
Shared Ancestry: Their Place in the Insect World
Crickets and grasshoppers both belong to the insect order Orthoptera. This order encompasses approximately 20,000 species, and its name, derived from Greek, means “straight wings,” referring to their forewings. Orthopterans are characterized by their chewing mouthparts, powerful hind legs adapted for jumping, and the presence of leathery forewings that protect the fan-shaped hind wings when at rest. Many species within this order are also known for their ability to produce and detect sounds.
Despite these shared traits, crickets and grasshoppers diverge into distinct suborders within Orthoptera. Crickets, along with katydids and wētā, are classified under the suborder Ensifera. This group is considered more ancient. Grasshoppers belong to the suborder Caelifera, which includes grasshoppers and locusts.
Ensiferans are often referred to as “long-horned orthopterans” due to their long, threadlike antennae. Caeliferans, conversely, are known as “short-horned orthopterans” because their antennae are shorter. This difference in antennae length is a primary distinguishing feature reflecting their evolutionary paths within the Orthoptera order.
Telling Them Apart: Key Distinctions
One of the most noticeable differences between crickets and grasshoppers lies in their antennae. Crickets typically have very long, thin, and thread-like antennae that can exceed their body length. Grasshoppers, in contrast, possess shorter, thicker antennae, usually less than half their body length. This difference is a quick visual cue for identification.
Their body shapes also differ; crickets often have more cylindrical or somewhat flattened bodies, while grasshoppers tend to have more robust, elongated bodies. When at rest, crickets hold their wings flat over their backs, often overlapping. Grasshoppers, however, typically hold their forewings in a more tent-like or roof-like fashion over their bodies.
Sound production, or stridulation, is a well-known characteristic of both, but their methods vary. Male crickets produce their chirping sounds by rubbing their forewings together. One wing has a file-like structure, and the other has a scraper, which are rubbed against each other to create vibrations. Grasshoppers, conversely, typically produce sound by rubbing their hind legs against their forewings, creating a buzzing or chirping noise.
The location of their hearing organs also provides a distinction. Crickets have their “ears,” or tympanal organs, located on their front legs. Grasshoppers’ hearing organs are situated on the sides of their first abdominal segment, near the base of their hind legs.
Regarding their activity patterns, most crickets are nocturnal. Grasshoppers are diurnal. Their dietary preferences also vary; crickets are omnivorous, consuming plants, other insects, and even larvae and insect eggs. Grasshoppers are primarily herbivorous, feeding on plants and grasses.