Kingdom Animalia Order Orthoptera Genus Meloimorpha Higher classification Meloimorpha | Phylum Arthropoda Family Gryllidae Scientific name Meloimorpha japonica Rank Species | |
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Similar Cricket, Xenogryllus marmoratus, Insect, Gampsocleis buergeri, Teleogryllus emma | ||
Meloimorpha japonicus, also known as Suzumushi (鈴虫, bell cricket) and bell-ring cricket'. is a kind of cricket native to Asia. It is known particularly for its song in Japan.
In Japanese literature
M. japonicus is an autumn kigo used in haiku. 'Suzumushi' is also 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.
Suzumushi are kept as pets by Chieko Sada, the main character of Kawabata's novel The Old Capital and are mentioned several times.
References
Meloimorpha japonicus Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA