Very interesting site on feeder crickets

[bugmankeith]

I didnt know they live in the wild by garbage dumps?! They also are attracted to bright lights in groups, climbing walls to reach the lights! They also kill and eat other crickets!

http://www.killfireants.com/house-crickets.htm

 

[BasementJungle]

Interesting Info, My friend just discovered a few hundred baby crickets under the waterdish in his bearded dragon's enclosure, including a moist tunnel leading deeper into the substrate

 

[bugmankeith]

What interested me is that the crickets we feed to our pets, and we think arent smart, are infact a wild species somewhere in the world. If you notice alot of nature programs show scorpions or spiders catching crickets that look just like the ones you buy in pets stores, thats because in various parts of the world they are a wild cricket species. I always thought they were a domesticated man-made species of cricket, but I guess I was wrong.

To prove my point I let a few go (adults) in areas by my house or where there is trash, and they lived for 2 months! Some even found their way into my house after being loose for 1 month, with no harm done to them and they were fat and healthy. Although I havent seen any offspring, I have a hunch they could be somewhere, mabye in another persons house or garage? If you release them at a dumpster then no doubt they will reproduce like mice, because dumpsters are warm and full of food all year round.

 

[pharaoh2653]

Most of the time when you see those crickets on Tv they are domesticated. They just take the bugs and put them in captivity and feed them for film. How else would they catch such a rare act like that on film? And how do you explain that same species of cricket found on almost every continent in the world.

 

[bugmankeith]

Ok, mabye your right. But they DO exist in the wild somwhere in the world, the link said they originally came from Europe. Like I said main habitat for them are dumpsters and houses. They lived in my backyard for 2 months, so im sure if they were released in Florida they would have a good chance of spreading their, Florida is always warm and has many exotic species thriving their.

 

[pharaoh2653]

maybe they live in the wild maybe not, dont believe everything you see on the internet. and releasing non native species is not a good idea florida is overrun with non native species and its destroying native wildlife and habitat.(although i dont think the crickets would matter) they could compete with native species. not a good idea

 

[bugmankeith]

I didnt mean to actually release them in Florida, I was just stating they could survive in Florida's climate.