Field crickets are the most common type of cricket in Texas. Field crickets are usually about an inch long and black or brown. The female field cricket can lay up to 400 eyes at a time, so some Texas cities see an outbreak of crickets in the spring and summer when all of those eggs hatch. Field crickets are also known for their chirps and calls. One subspecies with an especially loud call is named the Texas trilling cricket.
Camel crickets have a distinct body which sets them apart from the common field cricket. Camel crickets, also known as cave crickets, are brown with a hunched back shape, over sized hind legs and long, thin antennae. Camel crickets tend to live in cool, dark places, including caves. Cave cricket species which live their entire lives in caves can sometimes lose their sight and coloration.
Tree crickets and katydids are often confused with grasshoppers, because of their thin shape and green color. The way to tell them apart is that katydids have long, thin antennae, often longer than their body length, while grasshoppers have much shorter antennae. Katydids and tree crickets can fly, but spend their lives in trees and shrubs. Tree crickets lay fewer eggs than field crickets and are not considered a problem for humans.
Mole crickets have a body suited for digging underground. They have large front legs that they use for shoveling dirt and a shield shaped part behind their head for propelling them through tunnels easier. Mole crickets are about 1 1/2 inches long, brown and have functioning wings. Mole crickets rarely fly, preferring to stay in tunnels. Mole cricket's tunnels can hurt the root systems of crops, so they are considered an agricultural pest.
