LIFE HISTORY STATISTICS OF THE COMMON HOUSE CRICKET, ACHETA DOMESTICUS (GRYLLIDAE) UNDER NATURAL AND LABORATORY CONDITIONS

Abstract

Acheta domesticus, the common house cricket, is the cosmopolitan species. Based on 100 crickets, a mean time spent in each stage (egg, nymph and adult) for the cricket was calculated. Female crickets produced an average of 2,195±225 eggs per life, but there was variation due to food availability and temperature. Females laid 125±15 eggs/day during the reproductive life period which averaged 3 weeks ±3 days. In the confinement of 25°C, the duration of the egg phase was on average 13±2 days. The cricket nymphs required 56±5 days to mature with 8 molts for becoming adults. Adult stage duration averaged 53±7 days but typically ranged between 45 and 60 days and mostly depended on temperature and moisture.