Cricket vs Grasshopper: How to Tell Them Apart

When you spot a hopping insect, check these features quickly. First, look at the antennae. Long, thin feelers that stick way out mean cricket. Short, stubby antennae mean grasshopper. This is the single best tell. Second, check the sound. Hear a chirping noise at night? Cricket. Hear a whirring or buzzing sound during the day? Grasshopper. Third, look at the body shape. Chunky and rounded means cricket. Streamlined and sleek means grasshopper. Fourth, observe the jump. Short, hesitant hops mean cricket. Long, powerful leaps mean grasshopper. Fifth, check the legs. See massive back legs built for jumping? Grasshopper. Back legs less pronounced? Cricket. Any one of these clues identifies the insect. The antennae alone settle it completely.

Crickets typically measure 0.5 to 1 inch long, though some species are larger. They have a compact, chunky body that is almost round. The head is small and rounded. Grasshoppers range from 0.75 to 2 inches long and have a much sleeker build. A grasshopper's head is large and triangular. The legs differ dramatically. A cricket's back legs are muscular but proportional to its body. A grasshopper's back legs are absurdly huge, looking like they belong to a bigger animal. These massive legs give grasshoppers power and distance in their jumps. A cricket's body looks like an oval. A grasshopper's body looks like a torpedo with giant thighs. The wings are different too. Crickets have wings that lie flat on the back and are adapted for sound making. Grasshoppers have wings that fold like a roof over the back. This structural difference relates to how each makes sound.

Crickets live in all 50 states and adapt to many habitats. Field crickets are found in grasslands, meadows, and open areas nationwide. House crickets invade buildings in fall and winter. They thrive in warm places and die in hard freezes outdoors. Grasshoppers also live across the entire US. Different species prefer different regions. Some like prairie. Others like desert. Still others prefer moist fields. Grasshoppers are more active in warm seasons and are abundant in late summer and fall. Crickets become most noticeable at night in late summer when they chirp. Both insects like dry weather and sunny spots. Grasshoppers are more dependent on vegetation for food. Crickets are more omnivorous and adaptable. You will hear crickets everywhere in summer and fall evenings. Visit Wildlife to learn about insects in different US regions.

Crickets are nocturnal and most active at night. They hide during the day under rocks, logs, and leaf litter. At night, male crickets chirp by rubbing their wings together to attract females. The chirping accelerates in warm weather. Many crickets chirping together create a loud chorus. Crickets eat plants and insects, making them opportunistic feeders. Grasshoppers are daytime insects and active in sun and warmth. They are most visible in summer afternoons. Grasshoppers make sound by rubbing their hind legs against their wings, creating a buzzing or whirring noise. Some grasshoppers are silent. Grasshoppers eat grass and other plants and can cause crop damage in large numbers. When disturbed, grasshoppers jump powerfully away. Crickets hop short distances and are slower. Both insects are food for birds, spiders, and small mammals. Grasshoppers are easy prey for birds because they jump predictably. Crickets hide and chirp from shelter. The sounds you hear at night in summer are likely crickets.

Start with the antennae check. Can you see long thread-like antennae? Cricket. Short stubby antennae? Grasshopper. If you hear sound, note when and what kind. Nighttime chirping sounds like cricket. Daytime buzzing or whirring means grasshopper. Consider the time of day. Saw it active at night? Cricket. Saw it active in warm sun? Grasshopper. Watch it move. Tiny hops and hesitation suggest cricket. Powerful jumps that cover feet of distance suggest grasshopper. Check the body shape if possible. Chunky and dark colored means cricket. Streamlined and colorful means grasshopper. Most people see grasshoppers in summer when they jump through gardens. Most people hear crickets at night in fall. The nighttime chirping sound is unmistakable once you know it. Learn more about insects on Wildlife.

Many people think crickets and grasshoppers are the same insect with different names. They are completely different insects from different families. A myth is that grasshoppers cannot make sound. Grasshoppers make sound, but differently than crickets. Not all grasshopper species make noise loud enough for humans to hear. Another false belief is that crickets do not jump. Crickets jump short distances to escape. Grasshoppers jump far. Some think only male crickets exist because you hear chirping and rarely see insects. Only males chirp. Females are silent. Many females go unnoticed. A myth is that crickets are good luck. This belief comes from Asian cultures and does not apply universally. Another mix-up is confusing grasshoppers with katydids. Katydids look like grasshoppers but are more closely related to crickets. Katydids are also nocturnal and make loud chirping sounds at night. The easiest way to tell them apart is location in the plant and antennae length. Search for images on Wildlife to compare the three insects side by side. Visit Wildlife guides to learn more about identifying insects in your region. Most insects you hear at night in your yard are crickets. Most grasshoppers you see jumping through tall grass are in fields and open areas.