Generally, crickets lay eggs for the sole purpose of continuing their lifecycle. These insects have a short life span! That being said, cricket eggs may differ in color, shape, or even texture depending on the species of cricket insect. But before we go into that, let’s know a little about crickets.
Crickets are soft-bodied, defenseless insects from the Gryllidae family like the grasshoppers and the locust. They are harmless to humans and have become a food source due to their rich protein. Crickets are now trained by humans for both personal and commercial use. These insects are known for the chirping sound they produce and for their long antenna. They come in diverse colors due to the different species which on some occasions affect the kinds of eggs they produce.
Types of cricket eggs.
There are about 900 cricket species, if not more. These species of cricket lay eggs for the survival of their species. And since they differ in color, their eggs may also differ. For the sake of this article, we will mention but a few of these cricket types.
House cricket eggs: House crickets are found in the home where they also lay their eggs. These species of cricket live in building yards, in upholstered furniture, clothes, and near trash bins. House crickets are light brown, about 3-4 inch with long back legs and antennae. Their eggs, similar to other cricket eggs, are white or yellow and are about 3 mm in length. Female house crickets lay their eggs in cracks, crevices, and walls in dark moist areas.
Camel cricket eggs: Camel crickets are between light to dark brown with a segmented body. They have a humpback appearance and live in caves, underneath damp stones or plants. Camel cricket eggs are about 2 -3 mm in length and oval-shaped. The eggshell of this cricket species starts as semi-see through but hardens over time and becomes white.
Field cricket eggs: Field cricket eggs are usually found buried in the soul. These crickets are mostly found in your farms or gardens and feed on plants. Their color is shiny black. Females of this species lay their eggs in moist soil. Their eggs are oval-shaped and whitish.
READ MORE: How to get rid of crickets.
What do cricket eggs look like?
Cricket eggs are often tiny oval-shaped eggs, in the shape of a match ball. Because of how tiny cricket eggs are, you may not readily see them even when they are clunked up in one area. These insects lay their eggs in moist dirty areas. The color of cricket eggs may differ based on the species but it is usually light brown. Many crickets often eat up their eggs so it is advised that you separate the eggs from the cricket when you are breeding them.
How do crickets lay eggs?
The process of crickets laying eggs is not out of place with other insect species but male and female crickets have a fascinating way of mating. Before an egg is formed, the male and female crickets will undergo the mating process which involves the male producing spermatozoa.
During this period, male crickets will make chirping sounds and rub their wings together to entice the female cricket who in turn picks her mating partner.
All this happens when male cricket seeks the attention of female cricket. Male crickets would often perform the mating dance to entice her. Once she has chosen who to mate with, she mounts on the male cricket. The female cricket is capable of mating with multiple males before deciding which sperm to fertilize. Because of this, she sometimes eats the spermatozoa the male cricket produces. Shortly after this, the female cricket lays eggs.
Crickets have a unique lifecycle which is in three stages; eggs, nymph, and adult. For field crickets, their eggs are laid within the soil and would stay hidden until the eggs hatch out cricket nymphs while house crickets, the ones who frequently visit your home, lay their eggs in dark moist places such as crevices and cracks.
Where do crickets lay eggs?
Female crickets most often lay their eggs in hidden locations mostly from the male crickets who may want to destroy them. They can lay their eggs in a couple of locations indoors. They could lay their eggs in-between cracked walls, in plants or trees.
You should know that the location where crickets lay their eggs will change over time due to their fear of predators. The female cricket will not live her eggs in a place for too long. She either takes it to another of her egg-laying locations or a new location entirely. So if you are breeding these insects, ensure to separate the eggs from them to avoid the egg being eaten by the males.
READ MORE: What Do Snake Eggs Look Like?
How many eggs do crickets lay?
Female crickets can lay thousands of eggs in their lifetime. When she begins oviposition, female cricket lays her eggs, it could be up to 100 eggs at once. She would lay these eggs in batches, within two to three days, for a period of two months. In some cases, she would lay about 200 eggs.
How long does it take for crickets to lay eggs?
The timeframe for female crickets to lay eggs isn’t at all long. It is within the mating period. Female crickets lay eggs almost immediately after mating. It takes them approximately two weeks to begin laying eggs. The eggs from one female cricket could be a hundred or more. If you are breeding crickets, give them two weeks and they will lay oval-shaped eggs for you.
How long does it take for cricket eggs to hatch?
After crickets lay eggs, it does not take long before the egg capsules break and the cricket nymphs emerge. Cricket eggs take about thirteen to fourteen days to hatch. However, the period is determined by the location where the eggs were laid. If the condition where the eggs are kept is not up to the normal or usual temperature, the incubation process might take longer. But the standard hatching period for cricket eggs is between thirteen and fourteen days. A study showed that it would take longer for the cricket egg to hatch when the environment is at room temperature.
Do cricket lay eggs in houses?
Crickets lay eggs in several places. Especially places with 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and one favorite spot or location where these insects love to lay their eggs, is indoors, moist areas in your house. So yes, crickets lay eggs in houses. Those who train these insects will hatch their eggs in their cage as they adapt quickly to their environment. If you notice some crickets in your home, check out moist areas like your basements, to see if there are eggshells or coconut husks.
Can cricket eggs move?
The answer to this question is no. Cricket eggs don’t move. So if you notice any movement, you may be dealing with other crawling insects. Check properly to know what kind of insects are in your home before attempting to get rid of them. They are not cricket eggs.
Can I eat cricket eggs?
Well, in some countries, say China and some parts of Africa, crickets are novel protein sources for humans and they help reduce inflammation in the body. They are fried or prepared in other ways for human consumption. Crickets are good for your health as much as they are good for your guts. Although there is no prior study to know if cricket eggs are edible, they can, however, be bred into edible crickets. You can eat crickets only if you have the balls to.
Do female crickets die after laying eggs?
Crickets live for about eight to ten weeks after becoming adults so female crickets do not die immediately after laying eggs. They would however lay their eggs during the summertime and die during old age or freeze to death during colder temperatures like winter. The male crickets, on the other hand, die after the mating season is over. Naturally, crickets do not have a long life span, which means adult female crickets will die within a year.
Conclusion.
The importance of crickets and cricket eggs cannot be overemphasized. Crickets on one hand are good for consumption while eggs are used for other purposes. Some people breed crickets and cricket eggs. It is even a more lucrative business since cricket eggs can hatch into live crickets. Other people use these eggs as bait for catching fish and to get rid of more disturbing insects.