It seems pretty easy to make a cricket counter. Please forgive me if someone already drew this up. I only read a couple pages before I decided to draw something up.
Letters = light beam sensors
numbers = electric powered gates (not airtight, use mesh or screen)
The first hungry and bold cricket moves past the first gate which is open, as are all the gates at this first stage, and enters a clear plastic tube which is just the right size that I won't get two entering side by side. Once the cricket gets deep enough in it triggers sensor 'A', which closes gate #1. With only one way to go and smelling food in the distance the brave little cricket moves past gate 2 and triggers sensor 'B', which in turn closes gate #2 and re-opens gate #1. Onward little soldier past gate #3 and into sensor 'C' which closes gate#3 and opens gate#2. And repeat for each gate and each sensor until the first cricket finds himslef in a nice small room with a small supply of really tasty food. A tiny buffet and a door in the opposite wall that no predator could ever pass, but a cricket could if he was hungry enough....
The total crickets fed would be controlled by gate #1. When gate #1 has closed five time, you can be sure that there are five crickets in the queue. Set the logic controller to only allow 3 gate closures in a 24 hour period with the 3rd closure remaining shut for a set time regardless of the signal from sensor 'B'.
If somene builds this and makes a little money, it would be nice if you gave me one. If someone makes one and makes a lot of money, I could use some stuff. Call me. Patent pending (pending my filing of an application)
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