Grasshoppers and crickets are often confused due to their similar appearance and shared ability to jump, but they are not the same creature. They are close relatives within the Order Orthoptera, which translates to “straight wings.” The difference between them lies in a fundamental division within this order, separating them into two distinct suborders.
Scientific Classification and Relatedness
The taxonomic relationship provides the clearest explanation for their similarities and differences. All grasshoppers, crickets, and relatives like katydids, are grouped under the Order Orthoptera, known for their powerful hind legs used for leaping. This order is split into two main suborders: Caelifera (true grasshoppers) and Ensifera (crickets and katydids).
The separation into these two groups is a foundational boundary in insect classification. Caelifera is informally called the short-horned Orthoptera, while Ensifera is known as the long-horned Orthoptera. This distinction is based on several anatomical features, with the antennae being the most recognizable difference that gives the suborders their common names.
Distinct Physical Traits
The most reliable way to visually distinguish a grasshopper from a cricket is by examining the length and structure of its antennae. Grasshoppers (Caelifera) possess relatively short antennae that are noticeably thicker and typically much shorter than their entire body length. These appendages are usually comprised of fewer than 30 segments. Crickets (Ensifera) have long, slender, and thread-like antennae that can often exceed the length of their body.
In terms of overall body shape, grasshoppers tend to be more streamlined and cylindrical, an adaptation that assists in their movement through open habitats like tall grasses. Crickets often have a more robust, slightly flattened appearance, partially because they hold their wings flat over their abdomen. Another key difference, particularly noticeable in females, is the structure used for egg-laying, known as the ovipositor.
Female crickets generally have a prominent, needle-like or sword-like ovipositor extending from the rear of the abdomen, used to deposit eggs deep into soil or plant material. The name Ensifera is Latin for “sword-bearer,” referencing this structure. Female grasshoppers typically have a shorter, valve-like ovipositor, which creates a short egg-laying tunnel in the soil.
Behavioral and Ecological Differences
The sounds produced by these insects, known as stridulation, are created through different mechanical processes. Grasshoppers generate buzzing or ticking sounds by rubbing their hind legs against the edge of their hardened forewings. Crickets produce their familiar chirping by rubbing the bases of their forewings together.
This difference in sound production is accompanied by a difference in activity patterns. Grasshoppers are predominantly diurnal, meaning they are active during the day when temperatures are warmest, often found basking in sunny fields. Crickets are largely nocturnal or crepuscular, becoming most active at dusk and throughout the night.
The two groups also show distinct differences in their feeding habits. Grasshoppers are primarily herbivorous, feeding exclusively on plants like grasses, leaves, and crops. Crickets are typically omnivorous, consuming a varied diet that includes decaying organic matter, seeds, fungi, and sometimes smaller insects.
Grasshoppers thrive in open, sunny environments like rangelands and agricultural fields, where their herbivorous diet is readily available. Crickets prefer habitats that offer cover and moisture, such as under logs, rocks, debris, or inside human dwellings. This preference aligns with their nocturnal activity and omnivorous scavenging behavior.