Crickets are common and familiar insects, characterized by three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings, with the hind legs being well-developed for jumping. Male crickets have two antennae-like cerci at the tail, and their rough front wings rub together to produce a chirping sound, making them highly territorial; females, in addition to having two cerci, have a central ovipositor for laying eggs and do not produce sound.
Crickets often dig burrows or hide in crevices and are nocturnal. Newly hatched crickets exhibit gregarious behavior, clustering together, but after several days, they disperse to dig individual burrows.
Crickets have a varied diet and strong mouthparts capable of cutting through the roots, stems, leaves, and fruits of crops; they also damage underground tubers and roots, causing crop rot, or gnaw at tender shoots, leading to seedling loss. Therefore, crickets are considered pests. Although crickets are not numerous in most areas and thus often overlooked, in regions like southern Anhui and southern China, they are concentrated enough to become a major pest.
Crickets primarily damage crops such as soybeans, peanuts, corn, melons, and vegetables, and also affect wheat, cotton, and other crops.
For control, one can exploit crickets’ preference for hiding in grass piles by setting up grass traps or scattering insecticide, such as 666 powder, in fields to kill them.