Black field crickets are normally a problem in the areas of Northland, Auckland, parts of Taranaki, and Hawkes Bay. From February to May eggs are laid in moist soil and nymphs (immature adults) emerge from November to January. From February adults emerge and live for two or three months. Crickets inhabit cracks in the soil and eat surrounding crowns of grasses, which usually die. During long drought periods the growing crowns of grasses are attacked. Plants are killed therefore leaves the soil open to weed invasion.
