Tropical Banded House Cricket

Gryllodes sigillatus

Description:

This cricket showed up in my dog's dish last night. I had never seen this one before, only brown ones and green ones. I was surprised at the very short wings and the very long black ovipositor, making it a brachypterus adult. In searching for the species, I learned a lot about crickets! This one is the Tropical Banded House Cricket with an origin in Southwest Asia and now widespread throughout the warmer areas of the world. It became the most important substitute for the Common House Cricket which was reared in mass as pet food and was wiped out in factories several years ago by a Cricket Paralysis Virus. This species is smaller, yellower, with 2 black dorsal bands and usually short winged. It is resistant to the Cricket Virus. Since male crickets produce their song by rubbing their wings together, the Banded Cricket is noticeably quieter. It is also a better food source with less chitin. And....it is now in San Cristobal which in the past was too cold for it at our high elevation. Family Gryllidae. 1.5 cm body length.