Cricket Or Grasshopper: How Can You Tell The Difference?

Have you ever wondered how you can tell the difference between a cricket and a grasshopper? The famous Disney cartoon characters Jiminy Cricket and Hop the grasshopper were easy to tell apart, but in real life, it gets tricky. There are a few main differences that can help you determine if the insect in question is a cricket or a grasshopper.

Main Differences Between A Grasshopper & A Cricket

There is no easy way to tell just based on size if you have a cricket or a grasshopper in front of you. Depending on the species, they can be very similar in size. One of the easiest ways to tell whether you are looking at a cricket or a grasshopper, is by checking out the antennae. Crickets tend to have long antennae while grasshoppers have shorter ones.

Crickets sing by rubbing their wings together while grasshoppers sing by rubbing their wings against their legs. Another difference between the two: crickets have their ears on their legs and grasshoppers have their ears at the front of their abdomen. You will find most crickets out at dusk while grasshoppers tend to be out and about during the day. Generally speaking, grasshoppers eat mainly grass and are found in grasses and meadows. Crickets eat plants, but they also eat other insects too.