Meloimorpha japonica
M. japonica chirping song
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Family: Phalangopsidae
Subfamily: Cachoplistinae
Tribe: Homoeogryllini
Genus: Meloimorpha
Species:
M. japonica
Binomial name
Meloimorpha japonica
(Haan, 1844)
Synonyms
  • Homoeogryllus japonicus (Haan, 1844)

Meloimorpha japonica,[1] also known as suzumushi (鈴虫, lit. 'bell cricket'), the bell cricket, and the bell-ring cricket, is a species of cricket widespread in Asia (from India, through Indochina to Japan). It is known particularly for its chiming song in Japan, where they are often kept as pets.

Description

M. japonica range from approximately 17 to 25 mm in length and have wide wings which are shaped like melon seeds.

In Japan, they are found in Hokkaido (though not natively), Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.[2]

Subspecies

The Orthoptera Species File lists two subspecies:

  • M. japonica japonica (Haan, 1844)
  • M. japonica yunnanensis (Yin, 1998) - from southern China and Vietnam.

In Japanese literature

M. japonica is an autumn kigo (season word) used in haiku.

Suzumushi is the title of chapter 38 of The Tale of Genji, authored by Murasaki Shikibu. For unknown reasons, it is the only chapter skipped in Arthur Waley's translation of the book.

In the 1962 novel The Old Capital by Yasunari Kawabata, they are kept as pets by the main character, Chieko Sada, and are mentioned several times.

References

  1. ↑ Haan W de (1844) in Temminck [Ed.] Verhandelingen over de Natuurlijke Geschiedenis der Nederlansche Overzeesche Bezittingen 24: 236.
  2. ↑ 福井の生き物情報 スズムシ 福井県、2017年2月6日閲覧。
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