We share our planet with more than 2,000 species of crickets.
With so many species, it is difficult to give an exact life expectancy.
Some species live only a few weeks, others can survive for years.
How long do crickets live?
Read on to learn more about a cricket’s lifespan and cycle.
The life expectancy of a cricket
Many crickets live more or less 90 days.
Yet, crickets are quite low on the food chain and predation rates are high.
Combine high levels of predation with adverse environmental conditions, and most crickets are lucky to survive for only a few weeks.
Ever ponder why crickets make such loud noises?
They are in a hurry to mate!
The life cycle of a cricket
Crickets undergo incomplete metamorphosis. They go through three life stages: nymph, adult, and egg.
But before we get to the life cycle, let’s first take a look at the phase in which all this happens. Advertising.
Male crickets chirp loudly and repeatedly throughout the night. They advertise for women.
Male crickets signal receptive females where they are by rubbing their wings together. The male is larger when the call is louder. The bigger the male, the more irresistible he is. Simple cricket logic.
Once a female has chosen her male partner, the male transfers a large spermatophore (sperm encased in a protein-rich capsule) to the female’s abdomen.
The female then consumes the spermatophore, including the male’s ejaculate.
And voilà, the sperm fertilizes the female egg.
This leads us nicely to the egg itself.
Egg
Female crickets can lay 50 to 100 eggs every few days for 2 to 3 months. You don’t have to be a mathematician to figure out that’s a lot of eggs!
During this time, the female may mate with several males to replenish sperm reserves.
The cricket uses a posterior needle-like appendage called an ovipositor to lay its eggs in moist soil.
Cricket eggs are small and soft, no bigger than a grain of rice.
Under the right conditions, it takes about 10 to 14 days for the developing eggs to hatch into nymphs. But perfect conditions rarely exist in nature and eggs can take considerably longer to develop.
In some species, eggs develop slowly over the winter.
Nymphs
An major aspect in the formation of cricket nymphs is the environment. Nymphs usually hatch from eggs in late spring or early summer when temperatures are warmer and food is plentiful.
Nymphs are almost identical to mature adults.
The only difference between a nymph and an adult is that nymphs have no wings and are significantly smaller. They also lack reproductive organs.
The cricket nymphs grow exponentially and feed on a variety of organic materials. In large numbers, they can damage crops and grass.
Like other insects, cricket nymphs have an exoskeleton. The exoskeleton cannot grow with the nymph’s body, so the young cricket undergoes a series of molts as it grows larger.
Did you know?
During the period between each molt, cricket nymphs are called instars.
Lifespan of an adult
The cycle repeats as the nymphs mature.
Adult crickets continue to eat game, but they also have another purpose: mating.
Males howl and females choose a worthy male.
Crickets usually only survive a few months. They either fall victim to hungry predators or die from the cold in autumn and winter.
But crickets that find it in a warm place, like your house, can survive for a few years.
As with all animal groups, there are always exceptions to the rules.
The giant weta, a type of giant cricket insect, is endemic to New Zealand. Their average lifespan is about 2 years and they can even survive the freezing winter months.
This is possible thanks to a certain protein in their hemolymph that acts almost like an antifreeze, preventing the wets from freezing completely.
Crickets in captivity
Keeping crickets in captivity is not that difficult.
You can buy crickets in bulk or grow your own.
The conditions must be just right for crickets to thrive. This means that their living space must be warm. Neither too hot nor too chilly. Goldilocks.
Aim for a temperature around 80°F. This can be achieved by using a lamp or a heater.
Like all animals, crickets need food and water. This should be prepared on separate flat plates.
You can use a seed tray filled with pesticide-free soil. Make sure the soil is moist. This encourages crickets to mate and lay eggs.
Check the substrate for signs of eggs. A female usually lays her eggs just below the soil surface.
If eggs are found in the breeding tray, remove them from the main container and set the developing eggs aside. It is not uncommon for adult crickets to eat eggs from other crickets.
At the beginning of the article, I mentioned that under perfect conditions it takes about 10 to 14 days for the eggs to hatch. If you set everything up correctly, you might be able to spot cricket nymphs within this time frame.
Under optimal conditions and with the right requirements, crickets in captivity can live for a few years (unless you feed them to pets).
What changes with a cricket?
Unlike insects, which undergo complete metamorphosis, crickets are similar in both juvenile and adult growth stages
Crickets do not have a larval stage and therefore do not undergo drastic morphological or physiological changes.
They don’t change into something else and they don’t change into something else. Yet, nymphs acquire wings and reproductive organs as they grow older.
Conclusion
Crickets usually live about 90 days. Some can live longer, others have a shorter life expectancy.
Factors affecting cricket’s lifespan include predators and outdoor temperatures.
Crickets can be kept in captivity. Under optimal conditions, crickets in captivity can live for years. Their eggs hatch within two weeks.
FAQs:
Question 1: How long do crickets live on average?
Crickets usually live about 8 to 10 weeks in their natural habitat.
Question 2: Do all cricket species have the same lifespan?
No, different species of crickets can have different lifespans. For example, crickets (Acheta domesticus) generally live about 6 to 8 weeks, while field crickets (Gryllus spp.) can live 8 to 10 weeks or longer.
Question 3: What factors affect the lifespan of crickets?
Factors such as species, environmental conditions, diet, temperature and predation risk can affect the lifespan of crickets.
Question 4: Can crickets live longer in captivity than in the wild?
Under optimal conditions, crickets in captivity can live slightly longer than crickets in the wild due to factors such as controlled environments, constant food availability, and the absence of predators.
Question 5: How can I extend the life of my crickets at home?
Providing a suitable habitat with good ventilation, balanced diet, space and regular cleaning can help extend the life of crickets. More over, preventing overcrowding and ensuring access to water is critical to their well-being.
