Fauna
Insect

Snowy Tree Cricket

Oecanthus fultoni

Also known as Thermometer Cricket, Snowy Cricket

Snowy tree crickets are pale, translucent green insects famous for their rhythmic chirping, which varies directly with ambient air temperature. By counting the number of chirps in 13 seconds and adding 40, a listener can calculate the surrounding temperature in Fahrenheit. Active in broadleaf tree canopies and shrubbery from late summer into autumn, males sing in synchronized harmony across entire night landscapes.

NocturnalChirpingInsects
Snowy Tree Cricket reference1 / 7
Calibas at English Wikipedia / Public domain · cc0
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAphids, Scale insects, Foliage
Predators
  • Birds
  • Bats
  • Spiders
ThreatsPesticide spraying, habitat fragmentation, heavy light pollution
HabitatsDeciduous forests, orchards, suburban yards, shrubby fields
Life span1 year (adults live 1–2 months)
Classification
  1. OrderOrthoptera
  2. FamilyGryllidae
  3. GenusOecanthus
  4. SpeciesOecanthus fultoni
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Temperature Estimation: Count chirps in 13 seconds and add 40 to determine local Fahrenheit temperature.
  • Night Observation: Use a flashlight with a red filter to search broadleaf shrub foliage without silencing calling males.
Related species
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Found in Collections

Species set

Moonlight Marvels

Snowy Tree Cricket is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.

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