For its size the male cricket is a noisy insect whose chirps can be heard a mile away on a quiet night. Throughout North America, as well as in other parts of the world, the nightly serenades are a familiar sound. These sounds are made in much the same way as a musician plays a violin. The upper surface of each wing is equipped with a scraper. This is drawn over the lower part of the wing which has 100 or so rough, file-like places on it. By moving its wings the chirp is made. This “music” is the way the Creator arranged for crickets to “talk” with one another in their own special language.
Toward the end of summer the female cricket makes a hole in the soil about an inch deep and deposits about 300 little banana-shaped eggs. In the following springtime young crickets hatch and immediately begin searching for dead insects or tender plants to eat.
As the young cricket grows, its outer skeleton splits open and drops off. This is called moulting, and it is repeated as much as a dozen times. When the final moult takes place the wings and other parts of the body are fully developed. When it emerges from the final moult, the common Black Field cricket is nearly an inch long, with two long antennae at the front of its head that act as feelers. Two hairy growths, called cerci, extend from its back. These are part of its hearing equipment, although the main “ears” are in openings below the knees of the front legs.
The cricket is able to fly, but seldom does, preferring to move over the ground in great jumps like its cousin, the grasshopper. The mature crickets (which do not live through the winter) live a short but busy life, eating a variety of things. They prefer tender, juicy plants, often doing great damage to farmers’ crops. However, they also move into houses, barns, etc. In some Oriental homes crickets are kept in cages to amuse people with their chirping.
In cold weather the chirps slow down, and in hot weather they increase. Do you want to know what the temperature is? They say that if you count the chirps for 15 seconds, then add 40, you will have the temperature in Fahrenheit. Try it sometime.
Crickets represent part of God’s creation and have their place among all the things He has made. He has not only provided special features for their way of life, but watches over them, too, providing for their every need.
What does Scripture say about His care over you? In Acts 17:2424God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; (Acts 17:24) and 25 we read: “God that made the world and all things therein... giveth to all (people) life, and breath, and all things.” And in Romans 8:3131What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) and 32 These wonderful words appear: “If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Have you ever thanked Him for His wonderful gifts to you?
ML-02/20/1983