Burrowing cricket ID - Anurogryllus arboreus

Just had a "duh" moment - these are Short-tailed Crickets,

I didn't realize they occur in Oklahoma.

Moved from True Crickets.

… David J. Ferguson, 16 December, 2011 - 2:19am

Moved

… David J. Ferguson, 16 December, 2011 - 2:17am

I doubt the color is affected by heat,

but I suppose it could be. I might even be wrong in assuming that these are Gryllus. For the moment, I can't come up with anything these could be. They are worth keeping an eye on. As unlikely as it may seem, they may even be undescribed. Having different-aged individuals in one burrow is new to me as well. Family living in Crickets! I have seen multiple individuals of some Crickets overwintering in (or under) the same shelter though - usually all about the same age.

There are a few light(ish) ones from Texas posted on BugGuide, but they look very different from yours, and there is this one from California:

I don't know what species any of those are for sure. I have also seen plain brown ones that are very reddish at Lee's Ferry, Utah, but have never been back to look for them again. They were quite large and a bit darker than yours, and lived in the desert (but came to lights - which was handy).

… David J. Ferguson, 21 July, 2011 - 10:36am

Unfortunately my dogs...

decided to dig up the flower bed these were in, and I've not seen them since that day. I'm pretty sure these weren't overwintering, because I put that raised flower bed in this summer. I have grown up in Oklahoma, and I was a bug fan as a child, and I've not seen a cricket like this either. The ones I was familiar with as a child were black, and that's what I usually see in the yard. But I'm interested to see if anyone can ID them. It's amazing what's right under your feet if you stop to look!

… Amy Goodman, 21 July, 2011 - 11:19am

oop - that's Lee's Ferry in Arizona

Utah is nearby, but they haven't moved the line south yet (as far as I know :0).

I still find things in my own yard occasionally, that I thought lived only far away, mostly Chihuahuan Desert species.

Too bad the dogs are anti-Cricket. I'll bet there are others of the same still around, but they may be gone for the season by now; maybe won't make another showing till next year??

… David J. Ferguson, 21 July, 2011 - 12:16pm

I'm not sure about these

How large was this adult one. Looks like perhaps a female Field Cricket (genus Gryllus), but I'm not aware of any that are normally this color in Oklahoma. She could have just recently shed her skin and not fully darkened yet? Both nymphs are pale though as well, and it seems the odds that three have just shed their skins would be low (and are they even the same? - I'm not sure).

Moved from Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids.

… David J. Ferguson, 16 July, 2011 - 9:49am

Size and colors

I assumed the nymphs were of the same family because they went inside the burrow the adult was cleaning out. I'm wondering if the color may be due to our extreme heat and drought here in Oklahoma. During the day it commonly is reaching actual temps of 108 degrees (without heat index). Maybe they are spending more time than usual underground? And as far as size, the adult never came fully out of the burrow, but from what I saw, I want to estimate her size around 1.25-1.5"... just a rough guesstimate though.

… Amy Goodman, 16 July, 2011 - 10:55am

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… v belov, 1 July, 2011 - 4:48am