At Top Hat Cricket Farm, we grow and sell the Gryllodes Sigillatus.
Just about every reptile enjoys live crickets. Crickets are a great protein source for their diets and are full of natural appeal. Crickets have a lifespan of about 8 to 10 weeks.
Also known as the tropical house cricket or the banded cricket, we sell this species because of the many pros and because it is very resilient to the AdDNV cricket virus that has wiped out our supply and growth in the past. By selling the Gryllodes Sigillatus species, we can ensure that you always receive crickets that are both alive and healthy.
Pros
- not aggressive toward animals or humans
- all sizes very digestible (less chitin)
- more active, making a lively feeding experience for animals
- resistant to AdDNV cricket virus
- hearty, lives well (longer lifespan than Acheta)
- less odor vs. other cricket
- less noise vs. other crickets
Cons
- adults not quite as large as adults of other species
The 2010 cricket virus
Top Hat used to raise the house cricket, Acheta domesticus. This species is extremely susceptible to Acheta domesticus densovirus (AdDNV), a virus that kills it. Beginning in the autumn of 2009, sudden AdDNV outbreaks decimated commercial cricket farms in widely separated parts of North America.1
Top Hat was one of the farms hit. In 2010 the virus killed all of our crickets.
Rebuilding with a different cricket
While we were down, we worked tirelessly to find a cricket that would replace the acheta. We chose Gryllodes sigillatus because it is very resilient to the AdDNV cricket virus. Today we guarantee that your crickets are virus-free, alive, and healthy.
Banded crickets vs. house crickets
| Banded cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus) | House cricket (Acheta domesticus) | |
|---|---|---|
| AdDNV cricket virus | Resistant | Extremely susceptible |
| Lifespan | Longer than acheta | Shorter |
| Moving between U.S. states | Only under a USDA APHIS permit | No permit required |
This species has the best shelf life of any cricket species on the market. Keep your crickets at room temperature (about 70°F), with fresh water and a clean container, and order enough to get you through two weeks at a time. See our FAQ for full care tips.
Why banded crickets need a federal permit
Gryllodes sigillatus is regulated by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Within the continental United States, APHIS authorizes interstate movement of Gryllodes sigillatus only under permit, and does not authorize importation. The house cricket does not need a permit to move between states.2
Top Hat holds APHIS permits that authorize the interstate movement of Gryllodes sigillatus adults and nymphs for use as feeder insects. You can see each state's permit on our Permits page.
Is the virus still around?
Yes. A 2021 study found covert (symptom-free) AdDNV infections in reared Gryllodes sigillatus colonies.3
A family farm since the early 1950s
Top Hat Cricket Farm opened in the early 1950s under the direction of Grant and Janet Eldred, to supply crickets to the fish bait industry. Dave and his wife Jean bought Top Hat in 1989, and the farm went on to sell 5.5 to 6 million crickets a week for several years. Top Hat remains a family-owned business. Read our story.
Sources
- Szelei et al. (2011), Susceptibility of North-American and European crickets to Acheta domesticus densovirus (AdDNV) and associated epizootics, Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. PubMed
- USDA APHIS, Pet Food, Fish Bait, and Animal Feed. aphis.usda.gov
- Active and Covert Infections of Cricket Iridovirus and Acheta domesticus Densovirus in Reared Gryllodes sigillatus Crickets (2021), Frontiers in Microbiology. Frontiers
