How do field crickets reproduce?

Question

I have forty pages of interesting articles, not one of which addresses the mechanics of the thing.

I'm looking for the role of the spermatophore as well as the mechanics.

Answer 1

Well most Orthopterans (grasshoppers, katydids and crickets) do not use a spermatophore. This order has direct fertilization, which means they have direct copulation without the use of a spermatophore. The spermatophore is typically reserved for the more primitive insects like collembola (springtails) and other wingless varieties. Scorpions will also use spermatopheres, but once again they are fairly primitive.
Many orthopterans will have a plug which they insert into the female which acts to block or inhibit any other males from mating, this is sometimes refered to as the spermatophore. They also have what is known as a Spermatophalax, this is a sperm-free portion of the spermatophore which the female will eat in order to obtain more energy for egg production

hope this helps!

Answer 2

Well, a male cricket hops up on a female cricket and the tips of their abdomens hook together for a bit while the male injects some semen into the female. Pretty much the standard for all insects...