Crickets are orthopteran insects in the superfamily Grylloidea. Many are known for producing a chirping sound, technically a type of stridulation created by rubbing the legs together, which they use to attract mates. Crickets are some of the most efficient of all animals at converting food to body mass, producing far less waste than many other creatures; this means they are extremely rich in protein and nutrients. The close relatives of crickets appeared during the Carboniferous period, but true crickets first appear in the Triassic fossil record about 250 million years ago.
