Species Gryllus pennsylvanicus - Fall Field Cricket

Pennsylvania Field Cricket

Gryllus pennsylvanicus Burmeister 1838

The classic black, often large-headed black "Field Cricket" of the late summer and autumn. With a musical chirping song. Identification of Gryllus is difficult, and location, date, and song are the easiest ways to identify them. See Singing Insects of North America, where recordings of many species, along with other information can be compared.

Most of North America south of Boreal Canadian forests, becoming rare northward, and southward in tropical and desert regions. In the southwest mostly found in towns, irrigated areas, and in mountains. Replaced toward east coast by G. firmus, especially southward; with the dividing line roughly the Appalachians.

Overwinters as eggs. Nymphs mature through spring and summer, and adults are most common in late summer and autumn in most regions.

Very like G. veletis, but sometimes distinguishable (in some regions) by differing proportions. Best distinguished by season of occurence (but in summer some adults of both species can be found together, and are not reliably distinguishable). Also very like G. firmus, which may be better called a subspecies (??) than a distinct species.

Singing Insects of North America has lots of information on this species including photos, distribution and even recorded songs.

The Insects of Cedar Creek also has info and photos.