Black Field Cricket vs Flat Silphid Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Black Field Cricket Flat Silphid Beetle
Scientific Name Teleogryllus commodus Silpha tristis
Order Orthoptera Coleoptera
Family Gryllidae Silphidae
Size Body 25-30 mm 10-15 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Seed Feeders Carrion Feeders
Regions Australia, New Zealand North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Black Field Cricket

A common black cricket whose chirping song is a familiar sound of Australian summer nights. It is widespread across Australia and has been introduced to New Zealand.

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Did You Know?

Females choose mates based on the quality and complexity of the male's chirping song.

Flat Silphid Beetle

A flattened, all-black silphid beetle with three raised ridges on each wing case. It feeds on snails and caterpillars rather than carrion.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most silphids, it has shifted entirely to predation and is rarely found on carrion at all.