European mole cricket
The European mole cricket, scientifically known as Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa, is an underground-dwelling insect native to the United Kingdom and parts of the United States. This cricket typically measures 1 to 2 inches (30 to 50 millimeters) in length and is characterized by its yellowish-brown body, which is divided into three main sections: the head, thorax, and abdomen. Unlike many other cricket species, the European mole cricket possesses powerful front legs adapted for burrowing, with finger-like projections that aid in digging extensive tunnel systems underground.
Interestingly, while it has wings, this cricket does not fly; instead, it uses them to produce high-pitched sounds by rubbing its hind legs against its wings, particularly to attract mates and communicate with other males. The female can also call but does so infrequently. Reproduction involves the female laying 100 to 300 eggs in specially designated chambers within her burrow, where she tends to the eggs until they hatch. The European mole cricket primarily feeds on plant roots, smaller insects, and larvae, utilizing strong mandibles to chew its food. Despite its underground lifestyle, it faces predation from larger insects and some birds, although its average lifespan remains unknown.
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European mole cricket
The European mole cricket receives the name mole for its burrowing lifestyle. This cricket spends its life under the surface of the earth.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Family: Gryllotalpidae
Genus: Gryllotalpa
Species: Gryllotalpa
The European mole cricket is native to the United Kingdom and also lives in the United States. It grows to about 1 to 2 inches (30 to 50 millimeters) in length. Like other insects, its yellowish-brown body is divided into three main partsthe head, the thorax, or middle section, and the abdomen, or tail section. Its body is covered in fine hairs. Along the sides of its body, the European mole cricket has six legs. Although most crickets and grasshoppers have strong hindlegs, the European mole cricket's most powerful legs are its front legs. These legs have finger-like projections the cricket uses to burrow into the dirt.
Though the European mole cricket lives under the ground, it has wings. It does not use them for flying but for calling. Like other crickets, the European mole cricket rubs its hindlegs against its wings to make a high-pitched sound. Although most crickets only rub one leg, or scraper, against one wing, the European mole cricket takes turns rubbing its right scraper and then its left scraper against its wings. This sound is made louder by echoing through the cricket's burrow. The male cricket uses this sound to attract females and warn other males. Unlike most cricket species, the female European mole cricket can make calls but rarely uses this ability.
On the European mole cricket's head are a pair of antennae and compound eyes. Compound eyes are eyes with many lenses, instead of just one lens. Unlike most crickets, which have antennae generally longer than their bodies, the European mole cricket has short antennae that are only about one-third the length of its body.
The European mole cricket received its name from its geographical location and mole-like habit of burrowing in the earth. This insect creates massive burrow systems with many tunnels and chambers. Each European mole cricket burrow has a special chamber for laying eggs.
After mating, the female European mole cricket releases 100 to 300 eggs in the egg chamber from her abdomen in groups, or pods. After laying her eggs, the female watches over them as they develop for 2 to 3 weeks. Once the young European mole crickets hatch, the female remains with them for about another month, watching them and helping them as they grow. Like other grasshoppers and crickets, young European mole crickets molt, or shed their skins, many times before reaching their adult shape and size. In southern Europe, a cricket may reach adulthood in 18 months, but in cooler regions, the process takes longer.
Since the European mole cricket never comes above the surface, it must find its food underground. The European mole cricket's diet typically includes plant roots, smaller insects, insect larvae, and worms. Like other members of the order Orthoptera, the European mole cricket chews its food from side to side with powerful mandibles, or jaws.
The European mole cricket is typically preyed upon by larger underground insects and some birds.
The average life span of the European mole cricket is unknown.
Bibliography
"European Mole Cricket." Koppert, www.koppert.com/plant-pests/crickets/european-mole-cricket. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.