Fauna
Insect

Four-spotted Tree Cricket

Oecanthus quadripunctatus

Also known as Four-spotted Bush Cricket

Four-spotted tree crickets are delicate, pale green insects known for their high-pitched rhythmic chirping on summer and autumn evenings. Named for four dark markings located on the basal segments of their antennae, these nocturnal singers spend their lives hidden among weeds, goldenrods, and berry bushes. Their chirping rate is strongly temperature-dependent, allowing observers to estimate ambient temperatures by counting their calls.

NocturnalInsectAcoustic
Four-spotted Tree Cricket reference1 / 7
(c) Robert Webster, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAphids, Pollen, Plant leaves
Predators
  • Spiders
  • Insectivorous birds
  • Praying mantises
ThreatsPesticide use, habitat loss through frequent mowing and development
HabitatsFields, brushy pastures, old fields, garden edges, weed patches
Life span1 year (overwinters as egg)
Classification
  1. OrderOrthoptera
  2. FamilyGryllidae
  3. GenusOecanthus
  4. SpeciesOecanthus quadripunctatus
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
  • Listen at Dusk: Males begin their rhythmic singing around sunset from goldenrod patches or brushy field edges.
  • Examine the Antennae: Use a small magnifying loupe to spot the four black markings on the basal antenna segments.
  • Calculate Temperature: Count the number of chirps in 13 seconds and add 40 to estimate temperature in Fahrenheit.
Related species
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Found in Collections

Species set

Moonlight Marvels

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