About Allonemobius fasciatus (De Geer, 1773)
Allonemobius fasciatus, commonly known as the striped ground cricket, is an omnivorous cricket species in the subfamily Nemobiinae. It is heavily studied in evolutionary biology because it can hybridize with another Allonemobius species, A. socius. A. fasciatus is widely distributed across both eastern and western portions of North America, and typically inhabits the northern regions of the continent, while A. socius lives in southern North America. This species generally prefers short grassland habitats, and traits like body size can vary based on where individual A. fasciatus reside. In areas with varied topography such as mountain regions, A. fasciatus is found at higher elevations, while A. socius occurs at lower elevations. Multiple hybrid zones between A. fasciatus and A. socius exist across North America; one example is in New Jersey. This specific type of overlapping range forms what is called a mosaic hybrid zone, which develops because the habitat ranges of A. fasciatus and A. socius overlap. Although A. fasciatus mostly remains reproductively separated from A. socius, interbreeding between the two species is still possible. A. fasciatus is a univoltine species. Nymphs can take up to two months to hatch. This species is photosensitive, and its development speed increases as daylight hours decrease. This pattern indicates seasonal synchrony.
