HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Previous events

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids (Orthoptera) » Long-horned Orthoptera (Ensifera) » Crickets (Gryllidea) » Ant Crickets (Myrmecophilidae) » Myrmecophilus

Genus Myrmecophilus

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References

Oregon Ant Cricket - Myrmecophilus oregonensis

Mymercophilus oregonensis - Myrmecophilus oregonensis

urban arthropod - Myrmecophilus oregonensis

Pennsylvania Arthropod for ID - Myrmecophilus pergandei - female

Male, Myrmecophilus manni? - Myrmecophilus - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)

Suborder Ensifera (Long-horned Orthoptera)

Infraorder Gryllidea (Crickets)

Family Myrmecophilidae (Ant Crickets)

Genus Myrmecophilus

Explanation of Names

Myrmecophilus Berthold, 1827

Numbers

5 spp. in our area, 1 introduced

Identification

M. americanus - south FL (introduced)

M. pergandei - eastern U.S.

M. oregonensis - west coast

---no image--- M. manni - western U.S.

M. nebrascensis - central and southwestern U.S.

Habitat

Inquilines in ant nests

Food

Detritus and ant waste. In captivity, they may feed on fruits, grain foods, and food molds.

Life Cycle

Eggs take about a month or more to hatch.

Remarks

Ant cricket species are associated with certain species of ants.

http://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Myrmecophilus?fbclid=IwAR0TIpkRCMRu0iEmf8mtWrGajwIhrkva4Z3NbBxjW3iSrsqlExfoBtdvWI4

Print References

Hebard M. (1920). A revision of the North American species of the genus Myrmecophila. Trans. Am. Entomol. Soc. (Phila). 46: 91-111. (Full Text)

Henderson G, Akre R.D. (1986a). Biology of the Myrmecophilous cricket, Myrmecophila manni (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). J. Kans. Entomol. Soc. 59: 454-467. (Full Text)

Henderson G, Akre R.D. (1986b). Dominance hierarchies in Myrmecophila manni (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). Pan. Pac. Entomol. 62: 24-28. (Full Text)

Henderson G, Akre R.D. (1986c). Morphology of Myrmecophila manni, a myrmecophilous cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). J. Entomol. Soc. B C. 83: 57-62. (Full Text)

Wheeler W. M. (1900). The habits of Myrmecophila nebrascensis Bruner. Psyche 9:111-113. (Full Text)

Contributed by john and jane balaban on 19 June, 2007 - 2:36pm
Additional contributions by Graham M, Aaron Schusteff, Wisconsin Oecanthinancy, v belov, metrioptera, Arturo Santos
Last updated 29 January, 2024 - 9:29am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version