Life Cycle
Mormon cricket eggs mostly hatch the spring after they are laid, although in some areas eggs may take as many as five years to hatch. Hatching begins when soil temperatures reach 40 °F (4 °C). The nymphs pass through seven instars before reaching the adult stage, typically taking 60 to 90 days.
Breeding begins within 10 to 14 days of reaching the adult stage. The male passes a large spermatophore to the female, which can be up to 27% of his body weight. The spermatophore is mostly food for the female to consume but also contains sperm to fertilize her eggs. The value of this nuptial gift is such that swarming-phase females compete for males. This sexual role-reversal is not seen in solitary-phase females.
The female lays her eggs by thrusting her ovipositor deep into the soil. Females can lay about one hundred eggs each.
Read more about this topic: Mormon Cricket
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