Crickets are common insects known for their characteristic nighttime sounds and diverse feeding habits. They are generally classified as opportunistic omnivores, meaning their diet includes both plant matter and other organisms, such as smaller insects or decaying debris. The food sources a cricket consumes are heavily influenced by immediate availability and environmental conditions. This adaptability allows them to thrive in various habitats, from wild fields to cultivated gardens.
Preferred Wild Vegetation and Weeds
In natural environments, crickets prefer plant material that is soft and easily digestible. Their diet often includes tender shoots and foliage, making young grasses and seedlings a primary food source in fields and meadows.
Crickets also consume common broadleaf weeds, such as clover, which offer accessible nutrients and moisture. Species like clover and various other weeds are readily eaten. Furthermore, crickets play a role in decomposition by feeding on organic debris, such as decaying plants and fungi, which contributes to the nutrient cycle in the wild.
Cultivated Plants Crickets Target
The crickets’ preference for tender vegetation translates into significant feeding pressure on cultivated crops, where they are often regarded as pests. They target a wide array of garden vegetables and ornamental plants, particularly those with soft, succulent leaves and stems. This includes leafy greens like lettuce and cabbage, as well as fruits such as strawberries and tomatoes.
Crickets cause damage by chewing irregular holes in leaves, flowers, and fruit, which can introduce entry points for plant diseases. Young seedlings are highly vulnerable to attack, as crickets can sever the main stem near the soil line, resulting in a “cutwormlike” feeding injury that causes the plant to die. Certain species, such as mole crickets, inflict further damage by tunneling through the soil, disrupting root systems, and feeding directly on underground structures like potato tubers and radishes.
Plants Crickets Actively Avoid
Crickets are often discouraged by plants that possess natural chemical defenses, particularly those with strong, volatile odors. These plants contain compounds that are unpalatable or act as natural repellents, causing the insects to seek food elsewhere. Herbs with high concentrations of aromatic oils, such as various species in the mint family, including peppermint and spearmint, are generally avoided.
Other plants known to deter crickets include garlic, basil, and marigolds, which can be strategically grown near vulnerable crops for protection. Marigolds contain thiophenes, and the intense fragrances of herbs like sage and lavender are thought to irritate the insects. Utilizing these naturally repellent plants can help create an environment that is less favorable for crickets.