Insect · GBIF taxon 1690432
Oak Bush-cricket
Meconema thalassinumAlso known as Drumming Katydid
Oak bush-crickets dwell high in the canopies of mature broadleaf trees, spending their days concealed on the undersides of leaves before hunting after twilight. Unlike most katydids, males lack stridulatory organs on their wings and instead drum one hind leg against tree bark to produce a subtle vibrational mating signal. Females use an upwardly curved, sword-like ovipositor to insert eggs deep into crevices of tree bark where they overwinter.
NocturnalArborealCarnivorous
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aphids
- Small caterpillars
- Insect eggs
Predators
- Bats
- Insectivorous birds
- Arboreal spiders
ThreatsBroad-spectrum pesticide spraying, forest fragmentation, and loss of mature deciduous canopy
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, oak forests, hedgerows, parks, and suburban gardens
Life span8–10 months
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderOrthoptera
- FamilyTettigoniidae
- GenusMeconema
- SpeciesMeconema thalassinum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Night Lighting: Search under porch lamps, illuminated outdoor walls, or lighted windows where adults land after dark.
- Beating Sheets: Gently tap lower oak or beech branches over a white sheet in late summer to dislodge daytime resters.
- Gentle Handling: Allow them to walk onto a flat hand without pinching, as their slender legs detach easily under pressure.
Host Plant (c) Natalya Ivanova, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Same Family (c) Lennart Hudel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Lennart Hudel · cc-by
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