Carolina Ground Cricket
Eunemobius carolinus
Identification 5
The ground crickets in the subfamily Nemobiinae are small (< 15 mm) and difficult to identify. There are 3 genera in Iowa: Allonemobius, Eunemobius, and Neonemobius. Allonemobius have straight long ovipositors. Eunemobius and Neonemobius have short curved ovipositors. The character used in most keys to separate Eunemobius and Neonemobius is the length of the "distoventral spurs" on the hind tibiae. See BugGuide link below for a picture of this character or the diagrams in Orthoptera of Michigan. Eunemobius also has coarse teeth on the ovipositor while Neonemobius has fine teeth (see SINA key linked below). However, Eunemobius and Neonemobius species can usually be recognized without using the key.
Eunemobius carolinus has a short curved ovipositor less than 3.5 mm with coarse teeth. Eunemobius species are noticeably shiny, which, with some practice, distinguishes them from Allonemobius and Neonemobius. In the northern half of Iowa, any Eunemobius species should be E. carolinus, based on SINA range maps. Their range in Iowa is not well understood, but two other Eunemobius species could be encountered in southern Iowa: E. melodius and E. confusus. These are the two most difficult Nemobiinae in Iowa and are obscure enough that they are usually identified by their song. So, in southern Iowa, to identify Eunemobius species, you will need song recordings or very good pictures of small morphological characters. The E. carolinus song is a wavering buzzy trill. The E. melodius (Melodious Ground Cricket) song is a much more pleasant, constant trill. E. confusus sounds like tiny motor trying to start. Song recordings can be found at SINA.
Long-winged (marcropterous) individuals do occur (see photo) and can be attracted to lights at night.
Resources 5
Key to Nemobiinae genera: https://orthsoc.org/sina/s523k1.htm
SINA page with song recording: https://orthsoc.org/sina/533a.htm
Orthoptera of Michigan: https://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/Ag.%20Ext.%202007-Chelsie/PDF/e2815.pdf
BugGuide photo of male with hind tibiae spurs: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1852086/bgimage
Occurrence 5
Statewide.
Habitat 5
Moist microhabitats around vegetation.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Denis Doucet, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Denis Doucet
- (c) Charlie Hohn, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Charlie Hohn
- (c) Sequoia Janirella Wrens, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Sequoia Janirella Wrens
- (c) Dan MacNeal, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dan MacNeal
- (c) Tyler Grant, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
