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Corn cricket
Sighted on: 10.March.2025
During a wonderful safari with good lighting for photography, we came across an interesting sighting. Our guests witnessed the unusual behaviour of the Corn Cricket (Anthoscopus discoidalis), which sometimes turns to cannibalism when protein or salt is scarce. When large numbers are crushed on roads, they attract even more crickets, creating a cycle where they feed on their own kind. This behaviour helps keep essential nutrients like protein and minerals within the ecosystem, preventing resource loss.
In addition to preying on nestlings and practising cannibalism, these crickets are also an important food source for birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Their tough exoskeleton is rich in chitin, and their high protein content makes them valuable to insect-eating animals. However, their spiny legs and defensive behaviour can deter some predators.
The lush greenery of the rainy season is the best time to see them swarming in the Kalahari biome.
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