Crickets are familiar insects, instantly recognizable by the distinct sound they produce. As members of the order Orthoptera, these creatures are most often encountered by sound, particularly after sunset. Crickets are fundamentally nocturnal insects, meaning their primary period of activity occurs at night.
The Nocturnal Lifestyle
The crickets’ decision to emerge after dark is a strategy rooted in survival, allowing them to take advantage of the cover that darkness provides. Nocturnal activity significantly reduces their exposure to diurnal predators, such as birds, lizards, and some spiders, which rely on daylight vision for hunting.
Once darkness descends, crickets leave their shelters to begin foraging for food. They are omnivorous, consuming a diverse diet that includes decaying plant matter, seeds, fungi, and occasionally smaller or weaker insects. This period of high activity is also when they seek out mates, a process that relies heavily on acoustic communication. The cool, moist conditions of the night also help them regulate their body temperature and avoid desiccation under the heat of the sun.
Decoding the Chirp
The well-known chirping sound is a complex form of communication produced almost exclusively by male crickets. This sound is generated through a process called stridulation, which involves the insect rubbing specialized structures on its forewings together. One wing has a file-like structure and the other has a hardened scraper, and the rapid movement of these parts creates the characteristic sound.
The primary function of the chirp is to attract a mate, with the male producing a specific calling song to signal his location to receptive females. Male crickets also use an aggressive song, often referred to as a rivalry song, to defend their territory from competing males. Each cricket species possesses a unique chirping pattern, which ensures that females are attracted only to males of their own kind.
The frequency of the chirping is directly influenced by the ambient temperature, as crickets are cold-blooded insects. On warmer nights, their metabolism increases, allowing them to move their wings faster and produce more rapid chirps. Conversely, cooler temperatures slow the muscle contractions, resulting in a less frequent and lower-pitched song. This relationship is so consistent that the number of chirps heard in a set time can be used to estimate the air temperature.
What Crickets Do During the Day
During daylight hours, crickets become inactive and prioritize concealment until the next evening. This daytime resting period is necessary for conserving energy and avoiding the harsh environmental conditions of the day. They seek out shelters that provide protection from both visual predators and the elements.
Crickets retreat into dark, secluded, and often damp locations to rest. Common daytime hiding spots include deep cracks in the soil, under rocks and logs, beneath leaf litter, or within dense vegetation. The preference for cooler, moist environments helps them prevent dehydration, which is a significant threat to insects exposed to direct sunlight.