What is the difference between a grasshopper and a cricket?
Quick Answer
The major difference between a grasshopper and a cricket is their antennae. Grasshoppers have short antennae, whereas crickets have long ones. Additionally, grasshoppers stridulate (i.e. sing or chirp) by rubbing their hind legs with the wings. Crickets make chirping sounds by rubbing their wings together.
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Full Answer
Grasshoppers use their tiny ears at the base of their abdomen to detect sound, while crickets have their ears on the front legs. Another notable difference is the time they come out. Crickets are nocturnal, so they come out at night time. On the other hand, grasshoppers are diurnal, so they come out during the day. Crickets sing at night to communicate and mate, while grasshoppers do their calling when there’s daylight.
Grasshoppers are larger than crickets. In terms of color, grasshoppers have a more vivid green color that enables them to blend well in grassy habitats. Crickets typically have a paler green or brown color to fit well in the shadows at night. While most crickets can only jump, grasshoppers can jump and fly.
Although both insects belong to the Orthoptera order, their suborders are different. Crickets belong to the suborder Ensifera, while grasshoppers are under the suborder Caeliferans. The former eats grass and animal matter, while the latter mostly feeds on grass.
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