What is the Difference Between Grasshopper and Cricket

The main difference between grasshopper and cricket is that the grasshopper is a large insect with a pair of very short antennae whereas the cricket is comparatively a small insect with a pair of long antennae. Furthermore, grasshoppers have a bright green color, which helps to hide in the environment by camouflage while crickets have a pale green or brown color, which helps to protect from the predators at night.

Grasshopper and cricket are two types of insects that belong to the order Orthoptera. Grasshopper belongs to the Caelifera suborder while cricket belongs to the Ensifera suborder.

Key Areas Covered

1. Grasshopper
     – Definition, Characteristics, Behavior
2. Cricket
     – Definition, Characteristics, Behavior
3. What are the Similarities Between Grasshopper and Cricket
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Grasshopper and Cricket
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Antennae, Body Color, Cricket, Grasshopper, Locomotion, Stridulation

Grasshopper – Definition, Characteristics, Behavior

Grasshopper is a type of herbivorous insect that belongs to the suborder Caelifera. It is sometimes called the short-horned grasshopper when the grasshopper needs to be distinguished from bush crickets or katydids. When the grasshoppers change their color and behavior at high population densities, they are called locusts. Grasshoppers can be medium to large size insects as they can grow up to 4 inches long. However, they have very short antennae. The eyes of grasshoppers are very large and colored.

Figure 1: Grasshoppers

Generally, grasshoppers are a type of diurnal insects but, sometimes they feed at night. They are solitary animals that come together for mating. In addition, in the migratory phase, grasshoppers gather in large groups of millions of insects. Both male and female grasshoppers produce sounds by rubbing their hind legs with wings. Moreover, band-winged grasshoppers create a snapping sound by popping the membranes between their veins.

Cricket – Definition, Characteristics, Behavior

Cricket is a type of omnivorous insect that belongs to the suborder Ensifera. Also known as true cricket, it belongs to the family Gryllidae. It is related to bush crickets and more distantly to grasshoppers. The main characteristic feature of cricket is the presence of a very long pair of antennae. Their body is mainly cylindrical and the head is round. At the end of the abdomen, crickets have a pair of long spikes called cerci. The ovipositor that helps to lay eggs is long and cylindrical in females. The thighs of their hind legs are large. The largest members of crickets can grow up to 2 inches.

Figure 2: Crickets

Crickets are a type of nocturnal insects. Males can produce a lout chirping sounds to attract females for mating. This is by rubbing the top of one wing on the bottom side of the second wing. There will be more singing if the weather is warmer.

Similarities Between Grasshopper and Cricket

• Grasshopper and cricket are two insects that belong to the order Orthoptera.
• Also, both have very large hind legs, which allow them to jump very high or very far.
• Furthermore, both their front wing is leathery while the hindwing is clear.
• Moreover, both can produce a characteristic, musical, chirping sound in a process called stridulation.
• Besides, both prefer warm weather and temperatures; hence, they live in the tropic.
• Additionally, both undergo incompleteincomplete metamorphosis; hence, their life cycle proceeds through the egg, nymph, and the adult stage without a pupal stage.
• Also, their body color helps them to hide from predators.

Difference Between Grasshopper and Cricket

Definition

Grasshopper refers to a plant-eating insect with long hind legs, which are used for jumping and for producing a chirping sound, frequenting grassy places and low vegetation while cricket refers to an insect related to the grasshoppers but with shorter legs, and whose male produces a characteristic musical chirping sound. Thus, this explains the main difference between grasshopper and cricket.

Suborder

Grasshopper belongs to the suborder Caelifera while cricket belongs to Ensifera.

Number of Species

There are more than 11,000 species of grasshoppers and over 900 species of crickets.

Size

A distinguishable difference between grasshopper and cricket is their size. Grasshoppers are large and grow up to 4 inches while crickets are comparatively small and grow up to 2 inches.

Antennae

Another difference between grasshopper and cricket that is easy to identify is their antennae.  Grasshoppers have a pair of very short antennae while crickets have a pair of very long antennae.

Body Color

Grasshoppers have a bright green color while crickets have a pale green to brown color. Therefore, body colour is another important difference between grasshopper and cricket.

Locomotion

Furthermore, grasshoppers can jump, hop or fly while crickets can only jump.

Activity

Also, most grasshoppers are active during the day while crickets are active at night.

Diet

Diet is also a major difference between grasshopper and cricket. Grasshoppers are herbivores that feed on various types of grass while crickets are omnivores and feed on insects, aphids, larvae, insect eggs, and plants.

Sounds

Besides, both male and female grasshoppers produce soft and muffled sounds by rubbing their hind legs with their wings while only male crickets produce a chirping noise by rubbing their wings together.

Ears

Moreover, the little ears of grasshoppers are at the base of the abdomen while the little ears of the crickets are on the front legs.

Pests

In addition, grasshoppers are generally considered as pests while locusts are not pests.

Conclusion

Grasshopper is a large insect with a very short pair of antennae. In contrast, cricket is a comparatively small insect with a very long pair of antennae. They differ in the body color as well. Generally, grasshoppers are bright green in color while crickets are pale green to brown in color. However, both belong to the same order. The main difference between grasshopper and cricket is the size of the body, length of the antennae, and color.

Reference:

1. “Grasshopper – Facts, Diet & Habitat Information.” Animal Corner, Available Here
2. “Cricket (Insect).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Oct. 2018, Available Here

Image Courtesy:

1. “Grasshoppers eating grass” By Kabir 108 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia  
2. “Crickets feeding on carrot” By Sean Wallace – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia