Prairie Tree Cricket
Oecanthus argentinus
This record describes Oecanthus argentinus (species). Recorded family: Oecanthidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The horizontal black mark on the scape has a slightly upward stroke. The two black marks on the pedicle are touching (either they touch or are extremely close for this species). The pronotum has no black. This photo below of a 4th stage instar has noticeable characteristics which might be helpful in IDing instars of this species: note the dark straw-colored antennae, the central fine stripe from the face to the distal abdomen, the golden colored proximal limb joints, the thick 'squiggly' white markings on the sides of the abdomen and most notably - all those tiny black dots on the limbs and cerci. A great source for 'everything you ever wanted to know about tree crickets' is an article written in May 1915 by Bentley B. Fulton in a Technical Bulletin for the New York Agricultural Experiment Station. The Tree Crickets of New York: Life History and Bionomics
Wikipedia reference for Oecanthus argentinus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oecanthus_argentinus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Oecanthidae (Tree and Bush Crickets)
- Subfamily
- Oecanthinae
- Genus
- Oecanthus (Common Tree Crickets)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Not documented as occuring in trees. Found on a variety of plants -- of varying heights. Not strictly a prairie dweller.
Geographic Range
As of 1/2009, the SINA range map shows occurence to include the area from Washington south to California then east to Mississippi then northeast to Ohio and West Viginia then west back to Washington (excluding Michigan and Wisconsin.) County records were recorded in the tri-state junction area of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Another county record was recorded at the midpoint state line between Alabama and Georgia. Two additional county records were recorded in northern Florida. Also included is British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Undergo a paurometabolous development (Gradual Metamorphosis). Nymphs resemble small adults and gradually develop external wing buds. They live in the same habitat as adults, typically taking the same food.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author of species - Saussure, 1874
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Oecanthus argentinus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Orthoptera includes ~28,000 described species of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Desert locusts can form swarms covering 460 square miles containing up to 80 million individuals per square kilometer.
Ecological role of the group
Grasshoppers and crickets are a primary food source for birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Cricket farming is a growing industry - crickets require 12× less feed than cattle to produce the same amount of protein, using 2,000× less water.
Economic and practical significance of the group
A single large locust swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. The 2019-2021 East Africa locust crisis affected food security for 42 million people across multiple countries. Global crop losses from locusts can reach billions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, UN World Food Programme, research publications. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Prairie Tree Cricket (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Chuck Entz , David Ferguson , Wisconsin Oecanthinancy
Frequently Asked Questions About Prairie Tree Cricket
What is Prairie Tree Cricket?
Prairie Tree Cricket (Oecanthus argentinus) is a species in the family Oecanthidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Prairie Tree Cricket?
The horizontal black mark on the scape has a slightly upward stroke. The two black marks on the pedicle are touching (either they touch or are extremely close for this species). The pronotum has no black. This photo below of a 4th stage instar has noticeable characteristics which might be helpful in IDing instars of this species: note the dark straw-colored antennae, the central fine stripe from the face to the distal abdomen, the golden colored proximal limb joints, the thick 'squiggly' white markings on the sides of the abdomen and most notably - all those tiny black dots on the limbs and cerci.
Where is Prairie Tree Cricket found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Not documented as occuring in trees. Found on a variety of plants -- of varying heights. Not strictly a prairie dweller. |
| Range | As of 1/2009, the SINA range map shows occurence to include the area from Washington south to California then east to Mississippi then northeast to Ohio and West Viginia then west back to Washington (excluding Michigan and Wisconsin.) County records were recorded in the tri-state junction area of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Another county record was recorded at the midpoint state line between Alabama and Georgia. Two additional county records were recorded in northern Florida. Also included is British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. |
What is the life cycle of a Prairie Tree Cricket?
Undergo a paurometabolous development (Gradual Metamorphosis). Nymphs resemble small adults and gradually develop external wing buds. They live in the same habitat as adults, typically taking the same food.