Cricket 01 - Gryllus rubens

Moved tentatively

Moved from Field Crickets.

I found a paper with a key to southeastern species and it seems to key to G. rubens.

(Nickle DA, Walker TJ. 1974. A morphological key to field crickets of southeastern United States (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Gryllus). Florida Entomologist 57: 8-12.)

… Brad Barnd, 13 August, 2011 - 11:40pm

Moved

Moved from Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids.

… Brad Barnd, 22 June, 2011 - 12:02pm

Definitely doesn't look like G. assimilis

and to me it doesn't look like G. firmus, and that's why I favor G. rubens; however, I know of no way to be certain from a photograph, and I'm not sure if there are any reliable structural differences in females (probably there are, but are they documented anywhere?).

… David J. Ferguson, 22 June, 2011 - 12:20pm

A Field Cricket

Probably it is a Southeastern Field Cricket - Gryllus rubens. It seems by far the best fit, but I cannot be absolutely certain. This species (the males) makes continuous trilling song (sometimes it "stutters" a bit). You can listen to recordings of it here at Singing Insects of North America. I also know from experience that this species comes to lights a lot.

… David J. Ferguson, 22 June, 2011 - 8:39am

Thanks Dave

Looking at range maps of Gryllus in Capinera (1), only three are shown in southern Florida: rubens, firmus, and assimilis, with another species, G. cayensis, being further south towards the Keys. It doesn't look like assimilis in the guide, so it seems to be either G. rubens or G. firmus?

… Brad Barnd, 22 June, 2011 - 12:02pm