Texas Field Cricket Identification Guide
Gryllus texensis
The Texas field cricket is a large, dark-colored cricket known for its remarkably loud chirping. Found throughout the south-central United States, these insects frequently invade homes during late summer and fall, causing fabric damage and sleepless nights with their persistent calls.
Taxonomy
Texas Field Cricket Coloration
Common color patterns to help identify texas field cricket
Texas Field Cricket
Seasonal Activity
When texas field cricket are most active throughout the year
Where Texas Field Cricket Are Found
Hover over states to see their names. Green regions indicate where texas field cricket have been reported.
Texas Field Cricket Identification Guide
Physical Characteristics
The Texas field cricket (Gryllus texensis) is one of the largest field crickets in North America. Adults are 20 to 30 millimeters long, which is bigger than most other field crickets. Their bodies are thick and shiny black or very dark brown.
The head is round and glossy black. Long, thin antennae stretch out from the head, often longer than the body itself. Large eyes sit on each side of the head. The area behind the head is also dark and shiny.
Both males and females have wings. However, they mainly use these for making sound, not flying. Males have special parts on their wings for chirping. One wing has a scraper and the other has a rough ridge. When rubbed together, these make the chirping sound. Females have a long, needle-shaped tube at the back of their body. They use this to lay eggs in the soil.
The back legs are strong and built for jumping. They are much larger than the front legs. Two thin, tail-like parts called cerci stick out from the back end. These help the cricket sense its surroundings.
Geographic Distribution
Texas field crickets live mainly in the south-central United States. They are most common in Texas but also found in nearby states:
- Oklahoma: Common across the state
- Kansas: Found in southern and central areas
- New Mexico: Eastern parts of the state
- Arizona: Southeastern areas
- Arkansas: Western and central regions
- Louisiana: Northern and western parts
- Missouri: Southern counties
- Northern Mexico: States like Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas
This species likes warm, dry climates. They do well in grasslands, prairies, and farm areas.
How to Tell Texas Field Crickets Apart from Similar Species
Several cricket species look like the Texas field cricket. Here is how to tell them apart:
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Fall Field Cricket (Gryllus pennsylvanicus) is smaller and lives mainly in eastern states. Its chirp is quieter than the Texas field cricket.
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Spring Field Cricket (Gryllus veletis) looks similar but grows up earlier in the year. It lives mostly in northern areas.
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House Cricket (Acheta domesticus) is lighter in color. It is tan or yellowish-brown with three dark bands on the head. House crickets can live indoors all year.
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Southeastern Field Cricket (Gryllus rubens) lives in some of the same areas but is a bit smaller. Experts can tell them apart by looking at wing patterns.
Texas Field Cricket Behavior and Biology
The Loudest Chirpers
Texas field crickets are known for being very loud. Males make chirps that can reach 100 decibels up close. That is as loud as a motorcycle or lawn mower. This loud sound helps them attract females across open grasslands.
Chirping changes with the temperature. On warm nights, males chirp fast and often. When it gets cooler, the chirping slows down. Scientists have even made formulas to guess the temperature based on how fast crickets chirp.
Active at Night
These crickets only come out at night. During the day, they hide in burrows, under rocks, in leaf piles, or in thick plants. When the sun sets, they come out to eat and mate. Males start calling at dusk and may keep going most of the night.
Because they are active at night, lights attract them. Porch lights, security lights, and lit windows draw many Texas field crickets toward homes. This often leads to them getting inside.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Texas field crickets eat many different things. Outside, they feed on:
- Seeds and grains
- Leaves and stems
- Fallen fruit
- Dead insects
- Rotting plant matter and fungi
When they get inside homes, they will also eat fabrics, paper, cardboard, and food scraps. They really like items with food stains or sweat on them. Wool, cotton, silk, and man-made fabrics can all be damaged by hungry crickets.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Female Texas field crickets lay eggs in damp soil. They place 150 to 400 eggs during their life. The eggs go about a quarter to half inch deep in the ground.
Eggs stay in the soil through winter. They hatch in spring when the soil warms up. Young crickets look like small adults but do not have full wings yet. They shed their skin 8 to 10 times over 8 to 12 weeks before becoming adults.
The most adults are around in late summer and early fall. This is also when the most crickets try to get into homes. They want to escape the cooling weather. Most Texas field crickets die when the first hard frost hits. Those that make it inside may live longer.
Treatment Methods for Texas Field Crickets
Good cricket control uses treatments along with changes to your home and yard. This gives lasting results.
Inspection
A good inspection finds where crickets are active and how they get into buildings. Key areas to check include:
- Foundation edges for cracks and gaps
- Door bottoms and weather stripping
- Window frames and screens
- Openings around pipes and wires
- Mulch beds near the foundation
- Outdoor lights
- Yard and lawn conditions
Knowing how crickets get in helps target treatment to the right spots.
Exterior Treatment
Granular and liquid products around the foundation create a barrier. Focus areas include:
- Foundation walls and joints
- Mulch beds next to the house
- Areas under porches, decks, and stoops
- Where pipes and wires enter the home
- Walkways and driveway edges near the home
Products that do not repel work best. Crickets cannot detect them and pick up the material as they walk across treated areas.
Interior Treatment
For crickets already inside, treatment targets areas where they hide during the day:
- Baseboards and where walls meet floors
- Behind appliances
- Inside wall spaces
- Garage and utility rooms
- Basement and crawl space edges
Dust products work well in cracks and voids where liquid sprays cannot reach.
Sealing Entry Points
Closing up gaps gives long-term protection against crickets:
- Door sweeps: Install or replace worn sweeps on outside doors
- Weather stripping: Fix gaps around doors and windows
- Foundation cracks: Seal with caulk
- Pipe and wire gaps: Close openings around vents too
- Garage doors: Adjust or replace bottom seals
Sealing your home is key, especially before late summer when crickets start looking for shelter.
Making Your Yard Less Attractive
Changing conditions around the home discourages crickets:
- Change your lights: Use yellow bug lights that draw fewer insects. Move lights away from doors and windows if you can.
- Trim plants: Keep grass short near the foundation. Remove thick ground cover and weedy areas next to the house.
- Control moisture: Fix sprinklers that wet the foundation. Make sure water drains away from the building.
- Clear debris: Remove leaf piles, woodpiles, and stored items from near the foundation.
Ongoing Prevention
In areas with many Texas field crickets, preventive treatments before late summer help keep them away. Check entry points often and fix any new gaps right away.
References
Other Crickets
Explore other species in the crickets family
Commonly Confused With
Texas Field Cricket are often mistaken for these similar pests
Where Texas Field Cricket Are Found
Hover over states to see their names. Green regions indicate where texas field cricket have been reported.
Common Questions about Texas Field Cricket
Why are Texas field crickets so loud?
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Texas field crickets produce one of the loudest chirps among North American cricket species. Male crickets create this sound by rubbing a scraper on one wing against a file-like ridge on the other wing, a process called stridulation. The loud calls serve to attract females and establish territory. Chirping intensity increases with warmer temperatures.
Are Texas field crickets dangerous?
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Texas field crickets are not dangerous to humans. They do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases. However, they can cause damage to fabrics, paper products, and other organic materials when they invade homes. Their loud chirping can also disrupt sleep and become a significant nuisance.
What attracts Texas field crickets to my home?
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Texas field crickets are attracted to lights at night, which draws them toward homes. They seek shelter when outdoor temperatures begin dropping in late summer and fall. Moisture around foundations, dense vegetation near the home, and gaps around doors and windows all make properties more attractive to these crickets.
How can I tell Texas field crickets apart from other crickets?
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Texas field crickets are larger than most field cricket species, typically 20 to 30mm long. They have shiny black heads and dark brown to black bodies with golden-brown wing covers. Their chirp is noticeably louder than other field crickets. Geographic location also helps since they are primarily found in Texas and surrounding south-central states.
How long do Texas field crickets live?
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Adult Texas field crickets typically live 8 to 10 weeks. Their complete life cycle from egg to adult takes about 2 to 3 months depending on temperature conditions. Most adults die off with the arrival of cold weather, though some may survive longer if they find shelter indoors.
Do Texas field crickets fly?
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Texas field crickets have fully developed wings but rarely use them for flight. They rely primarily on their powerful hind legs for jumping and quick movement. When threatened, they hop away rather than fly. Their wings are primarily used by males to produce their characteristic chirping sounds.
When are Texas field crickets most active?
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Texas field crickets are nocturnal, becoming most active from dusk through the night. Peak activity occurs during late summer and early fall when adult populations are highest. During the day, they hide under rocks, logs, leaf litter, and in burrows to avoid predators and heat.
With five years of hands-on experience in the pest control industry, George Schulz is a registered technician with the Virginia Pest Management Association and a proud third-generation professional in a family business that's been protecting homes for over 57 years. He manages and trains a team of service pros while also leading internal research efforts—recently spearheading a deep-dive review of thousands of documents on pest control materials to hand-pick the most kid and pet friendly, most effective solutions tailored specifically for homes in the DC metro area.