Oecanthinae

Blanchard, 1845

tree crickets

Genus Guides

2

Tree crickets (Oecanthinae) are a of crickets in the Gryllidae, comprising seven . They are characterized by their arboreal habits, distinctive , and unique courtship involving metanotal gland secretions. Males produce -specific calling songs by stridulation, with some species modifying their acoustic environment by chewing holes in leaves to amplify their calls. The subfamily has a global distribution with notable diversity in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Oecanthus nigricornis by no rights reserved, uploaded by Thompson Hyggen. Used under a CC0 license.Oecanthinae by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Oecanthinae by (c) Summit Metro Parks, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Summit Metro Parks. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Oecanthinae: //oʊˌɛkænˈθaɪni//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguishable from other by the combination of arboreal habits, male paddle-shaped tegmina, and presence of metanotal gland secretions during courtship. -level identification often requires examination of antennal segment markings, calling song characteristics, or molecular data. Distinguished from katydids (Tettigoniidae) by shorter relative to body and different wing venation. Separated from other Gryllidae subfamilies by the expanded male tegmina and unique courtship feeding .

Images

Habitat

Primarily arboreal, occurring in shrubs, trees, and tall vegetation. Some inhabit grassy fields, meadows, and similar open . One species (Oecanthus mhatreae) occurs in tropical deciduous forest understory. Hawaiian Leptogryllus elongatus inhabits hollow fronds of giant tree ferns. Elevation distribution varies: Oecanthus dulcisonans occurs in warmer lowlands while O. pellucens is limited to higher altitudes in southern Italy.

Distribution

Global distribution including North America, Europe, Asia, Central America, and Hawaii. Documented from China (eight ), Mexico, southern Italy, and across the United States. The shows significant diversity in the Western Hemisphere with multiple species groups.

Seasonality

Activity patterns vary by latitude and elevation. active during summer months in temperate regions; year-round activity possible in tropical and subtropical areas. Late season activity documented into September at higher elevations in southwestern United States.

Diet

, feeding on plant material and small insects such as aphids. Specific dietary preferences vary among and life stages.

Life Cycle

Hemimetabolous development with , nymph, and stages. Females deposit eggs into plant stems, berry canes, and other vegetation using the ovipositor. Nymphs undergo multiple before reaching adulthood. Detailed duration varies among and environmental conditions.

Behavior

Males produce calling songs through stridulation (scraping a file on one wing against a scraper on the other) to attract females. Some align wings with gaps in foliage or chew holes in leaves to reduce acoustic interference. Upon female approach, males switch to softer courtship songs and expose the metanotal gland; females feed on glandular secretions while transfer occurs. Hawaiian species Leptogryllus elongatus lacks stridulum and , instead using vibratory and tactile courtship via tremulation and cercal tapping. Multiple females may nest in proximity, creating apparent colonies.

Ecological Role

Prey for various including sphecid such as the Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus), which hunts tree crickets as food for offspring. Contribution to acoustic environment of . Potential role in plant pollination through visitation to flowers.

Human Relevance

Subject of bioacoustic research and citizen science monitoring. Some serve as indicators of environmental conditions and quality. Popular subjects for nature observation and photography due to distinctive songs and accessible .

Similar Taxa

  • Gryllinae (field crickets)Share Gryllidae but lack expanded paddle-shaped male tegmina and metanotal gland courtship feeding; typically ground-dwelling rather than arboreal
  • Tettigoniidae (katydids/bush crickets)Similar body plan and stridulatory mechanism but have extremely long (often longer than body), different wing venation, and lack metanotal gland secretions
  • Gryllotalpinae (mole crickets)Share Gryllidae but are with modified forelegs for digging; radically different and

More Details

Acoustic diversity

Calling songs show substantial interspecific variation and serve as primary isolating mechanisms. identification often requires song analysis alongside .

Research resources

Oecanthinae.com maintained by Nancy Collins provides extensive identification resources and has facilitated discovery of new . Singing Insects of North America covers tree songs alongside other orthopterans.

Taxonomic note

placement has varied in literature; some sources list Oecanthidae as separate family while others maintain as Oecanthinae within Gryllidae. Catalogue of Life and NCBI recognize Oecanthinae within Gryllidae.

Sources and further reading