Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Apotrechus
    Species
    illawarra
    Subfamily
    Gryllacridinae
    Family
    Gryllacrididae
    Super Family
    Gryllacridoidea
    Suborder
    Ensifera
    Order
    Orthoptera
    Class
    Insecta
    Subphylum
    Uniramia
    Phylum
    Arthopoda
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    5 cm

Introduction

All members of this large group of crickets have a mechanism that produces a raspy sound, which they may use as a defence when disturbed.

Identification

The Illawarra Raspy Cricket is wingless and spends the day in burrows constructed of sand and silk.

Habitat

The Illawarra Raspy Cricket lives in forests and woodlands, and heath.

Distribution

The Illawarra Raspy Cricket is found in coastal New South Wales.


Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Other behaviours and adaptations

The Illawarra Raspy Cricket can produce silk at all stages of its life cycle and, after a night of feeding, always returns to the same burrow. It is thought that it recognises its own home by its distinctive smell or pheromone.