Acheta domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Material examined.

Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 2♂, 8♀; Riffat, Surriya; 28 Aug. 2019; Mithi 24.7436°N, 69.8061°E , 11♂, 17♀; Riffat, Surriya; 30 Aug. 2019; Naushahro feroze 26.8463°N, 68.1253°E , 3♀; Surriya, Riffat; 3 Sep. 2019; Chachro 25.1156°N, 70.2557°E , 5♂, 11♀; Riffat, Surriya; 11 Sep. 2019; Umerkot 25.3549°N, 69.7376°E , 5♂, 16♀; Surriya, Riffat; 12 Sep. 2019; Nara 34.6851°N, 135.8048°E , 12♂, 24♀; Surriya, Riffat; 17 Sep. 2019; Nagarparkar 24.3572°N, 70.7555°E , 1♂, 4♀; 14 Aug. 2019; Tharparkar 24.8777°N, 70.2408°E, 2♂, 9♀; Riffat, Surriya; 16 Aug. 2019; Sanghar 26.0436°N, 68.9480°E , 1♂, 8♀; Riffat, Surriya; 17 Aug. 2019; Islamkot 24.7014°N, 70.1783°E .

Description.

Medium size, pubescent and deep. General colouration light fulvous or testaceous (Fig. 1A). Head brown with two variables extending testaceous bands (Fig. 2A, B). Pronotum adorned with two large brown bands (Fig. 4A, B). Elytra extending to the apex of abdomen. Wings usually larger than the elytra (Fig. 8A, B). Legs yellowish with a few brown spots. Posterior tibia armed with eleven spines on the basal side (Fig. 6A, B. Ovipositor large and acute.

Male: LH 2.25 ± 0.15 (mm), LP 3.5 ± 1.4 (mm), LT 4.5 ± 1.73 (mm), LF 11.0 ± 2.08 (mm), LT 6.01 ± 1.0 (mm), LT 4.9 (mm), TBL 15.33 ± 4.2 (mm) Female: LH 3.26 ± 2.8 (mm), LP 3.83 ± 1.50 (mm), LT 4.7 ± 1.23 (mm), LF 14.0 ± 4.11 (mm), LT 7.33 ± 2.06 (mm), LO 10.66 ± 2.94 (mm), TBL 16 ± 3.05 (mm).

Ecology.

Acheta domesticus is broadly distributed in the field. They complete their life cycle within 60-70 days. Agricultural crops affected by this species are Tritium aestivum (wheat), Oryza sativa (rice), Sacharum officinarium (sugarcane), and Dactyloctenium aegyptium (common lawn grasses).

Global distribution.

Czech Republic, Greece, Peloponnese, Patras, Yugoslavia, Serbia, USA, India, Pakistan (Cigliano et al. 2020).

Remarks.

Acheta domesticus is generally recognised as the house cricket, cosmopolitan in nature. The presence of this species was reported by Chopard (1969) from Himalayas, Srinagar, and Kashmir, at 6000 ft a.s.l. Previously, Ghouri (1961) stated that A. domesticus and other species were severe pests of many crops in Pakistan, and Malik (2012) also stated it from human habitation. At present we have recorded this species from Chachro (25.1156°N, 70.2557°E). We have collected large numbers of specimens from agricultural fields and confirm that it is a pest of various crops.