Species of commercially-farmed crickets in Thailand

Abstract

Result found that there are four species of commercially farmed crickets in Thailand with some farms raising two or more types of crickets. First, the “Thongdum Cricket” (Two-spotted cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus) is the most commonly raised in 92 farms. The “Thongdum Cricket” has two phenotypes as the red-coloured and black-coloured body. Genetic evidence from mitochondrial DNA sequences at the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene found that these two phenotypes are found in the same species. Second, the “House Cricket” (Acheta domesticus) commonly known in Thai as “Sa-ding” is raised in 65 farms. Third, the “Thongdaeng Cricket” (Ground Cricket, Teleogryllus mitratus) has yellow V-shape mark between the two eyes when viewed anteriorly and is raised in 33 farms. The name “Jing Krong” is often mistaken which instead of the correct one of “Thongdaeng Cricket”. The genetic sequence information confirmed these species should be named “Thongdaeng Cricket”. Last, “Thonglai Cricket” (Crazy red field cricket, Gryllus locorojo) has distinct M-shaped marking on the head, and the body is red-brown. This species is raised in 15 farms, and is often mistakenly called “Vietnam Cricket” because they were imported originally from Vietnam.