Crickets come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

These husky crickets are called field crickets, genus Gryllus.

Even though they are good-sized, they are still nymphs because they lack wings.

The two projections on the end of the abdomen are called cerci. The cerci look like antennae, and serve some of the same sensing functions. Can you see the hairs on the cerci? Those can detect movement.

Compare these field crickets to slender, delicate tree crickets and the light brown Indian house crickets. Even though they look quite different, you can see crickets all have cerci at the end of the abdomen and have enlarged hind legs for jumping.

What kind of crickets live near you?

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