Species · GBIF taxon 1720949
Snowy Tree Cricket
Oecanthus fultoniAlso known as Thermometer Cricket, Fulton's Tree Cricket
Snowy tree crickets are delicate, pale green insects renowned for their rhythmic, temperature-dependent chirping that defines warm summer nights across North America. They spend their lives high in the foliage of trees and shrubs, feeding on leaves, flowers, and small soft-bodied pests. During courtship, males sing from the undersides of leaves, using the leaf surface as a natural megaphone to amplify their mating calls.
NocturnalAcousticArboreal
Licensed referenceCalibas at English Wikipedia / Public domain · cc0
- diet
- Omnivorous, feeding on leaves, flowers, fruit, aphids, and scale insects
- family
- Gryllidae
- threats
- Pesticide use, habitat loss, and extreme weather events
- life Span
- About 1 year
NE
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Listen for the rhythm: Count the chirps in 13 seconds and add 40 to estimate the temperature in Fahrenheit.
- Spotting at night: Use a red-light flashlight to locate singing males on the undersides of leaves without startling them.
- Handle with care: These insects are extremely fragile and should be observed without physical contact.