You can make it work with any reptile in the world but you will cringe at the very thought of a cockroach or cricket.
There is something about their slimy appearance and thin legs that will make you feel disgusted.
You might not be able to find much information about them as to what exactly they are or how they affect us.
So in this article, we are going to discuss everything about cockroaches and crickets- their similarities, differences, their habitats, etc.
What Do Cockroaches Look Like?
They are insects of the Blattodea, which also includes termites.
They are ancient species of the Carboniferous period, which dates back to 320 million years ago.
These have flat, oval-shaped bodies that are oily in-touch and maybe cool or warm, depending on the environment they are present in.
Their head is small and is covered with a shield-like pronotum.
The Number Of Legs They Have
They have six long, spiny legs, which allow them to run quickly over almost any surface type.
The pads, which are specialized and are located at the tarsi, are used for scaling surfaces.
These even allow for walking on walls and ceilings.
Some also have wings, which are flattened around the back But not all of them use them for flying.
What Do Crickets Look Like?
Crickets belong to the family of Gryllidae, which are insects related to bush crickets and more distantly to grasshoppers.
They are small to medium-sized insects; their body shape is mostly cylindrical, and a bit vertically flattened.
Their head is spherical and have long slender antennas arising from cone-shaped scapes.
The Number Of Legs They Have
These have six legs, where four are for walking, and the other two are for making long jumps.
The legs for walking are in the front and the other two are large and are behind.
Cockroach vs. Cricket
Appearance
Cockroaches have hard external shells to protect their bodies and wings. They have wings, which are not necessarily used.
Crickets have front wings that cover their abdomens and hind wings hidden under their front wings. They have long legs which are used for jumping.
Mating Behavior
Cockroaches perform many functions, such as flapping their wings, hissing, and displaying their abdomen to attract the female cockroach. They are very aggressive.
To attract the female crickets, the male cricket rubs their front wings together. This makes a chirping sound that attracts female cricket. They are not aggressive.
Food and Habitat
A cockroach can live almost everywhere but thrive in those places which have moisture. They survive on plants, organic material, and insects.
Crickets are mostly found in grassy areas, lawns, near trees and logs, and under rocks. They survive by eating plants and other organic materials.
Impact
Cockroaches are a rich source of food for their predators. Some species of cockroaches may spread diseases throughout people’s homes; this is because of the contaminated places they tend to live in and the bacteria they carry.
Crickets have a positive impact on the environment. They provide enrichment to the soil, as they eat decaying matter and digest their food.
Similarities between Cockroaches and Crickets
Appearance
Both cockroaches and crickets are black, brown or the combination of two.
They use this collaboration to camouflage; this further helps them from hiding from their predators.
Mating Behavior
In both types of insects, the female insect is attracted by the male insect.
In here, the male insect does the work of attracting the female insect and then mate.
Food and Habitat
Where crickets prefer a more grassy area, the cockroaches can be found anywhere and use this in their advantage.
They both eat organic matters and plants.
Impact
Both of them have a positive impact on the environment; they help in providing a source of enrichment to the soil and their predators.
Final Words
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that both cockroaches and crickets belong to a family of insects and they have a wide range of similarities between them.
But we should also remember the huge difference in their behavior and other patterns.
This helps us in analyzing how huge this world is and even a little creature, such as cockroaches or cricket, can make a huge impact on the environment.
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