Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#517581
Northern Wood Cricket - Gryllus vernalis - male

Northern Wood Cricket - Gryllus vernalis - Male
Hoosier National Forest, Monroe County, Indiana, USA
May 11, 2011
Size: roughly 1 1/2"
I think this fellow is either a Northern Wood Cricket or a Spring Field Cricket. I found him on a wall in the early morning. I'd appreciate help with i.d. Thanks!

Moved
Moved from Field Crickets.

 
Thanks
:)

Telling which from a photo may be impossible.
Would just be a guess. The Field Cricket males usually have bigger heads than this one, but not always, so it's not a reliable difference. I think the cerci tend to be longer on Wood Crickets too, but again, I don't know how reliable this is (they seem pretty long on yours). However, if you've heard them singing, then it should be pretty easy. The Wood Cricket has a much faster tempo and slightly different pitch to it's song (sounds less "musical"), and is pretty easy to recognize the difference as compared to the Spring Field Cricket. You can listen to the songs at the "Singing Insects of North America" web site.
Northern Wood Cricket
Spring Field Cricket
Of course the song can vary with temperature, the time of night (or day), even from one individual to the next, but still they will sound different. Also, the sound produced will be totally different if two individuals are interacting directly with one another. However, mostly what you here is the "normal" calling song that is what is in these recordings.
You could have Southern Wood Crickets too, but they do tend to look different, and I don't think that's what this one is.

 
Great info
Thanks, David. Unfortunately, I didn't hear him singing, so I think this one will remain a mystery. Thanks for the great information!

 
Definitely a northern wood cricket
The head to pronotum width ratio gives it away-- if the pronotum is wider, it's a northern wood cricket. If the head is wider, it's a spring field cricket.

This one is a northern wood cricket.

 
Excellent! Thanks!
I wonder if you'd give me your opinion on these photos - according to your description, I think she may also be a northern wood cricket. Thanks!

 
Responded at the photo of the
Responded at the photo of the cricket facing left. Those aren't vernalis.