An Old World Field Cricket Species in America (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Scapsipedus)

Abstract

In April, 1959, field crickets were collected in Jamaica and brought alive to this laboratory for study. The great majority of these specimens were Gryllus assimilis Fabricius, and it was assumed for some months that all the specimens collected belonged to this species. The senior author, however, noticed certain specimens that appeared to be distinctive; these were segregated and reared separately, crossing experiments were carried out between them and Gryllus assimilis, and the nymphal stages of both forms were compared. These studies revealed thar two distinct species had been collected in Jamaica, and the unknown species was subsequently determined by Professor L. Chopard as Scapsipedus marginatus Afzelius and Brannius.