Crickets

Crickets are small insects related to grasshoppers. They are usually brown or black. Crickets love to sing, especially on warm nights. Only the male crickets make the chirping sound. They rub their wings together to make music.

Cricket Songs

A male cricket chirps to call a female. Each kind of cricket has its own special song. On warmer nights, crickets chirp faster. On cool nights, they chirp more slowly. You can even guess the temperature by counting cricket chirps.

Where They Live

Crickets live in fields, forests, and even inside houses. They like to hide in dark, damp places. Crickets eat plants, bugs, and leftover food. They have long antennae that help them feel their way around. Crickets come out mostly at night.

Fun Facts

• Crickets have ears on their front legs.
• Some people keep crickets as lucky pets in small cages.
• A cricket can jump many times its own body length.

Did You Know?

In China, people have kept singing crickets as pets for over 2,000 years.