Four-spotted Tree Cricket
Oecanthus quadripunctatus
This record describes Oecanthus quadripunctatus (species). Recorded family: Oecanthidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The outer marks on first and second antennal segments usually less heavily pigmented than inner marks; outer mark on first segment is usually round. (Compared to Black-horned TC which has equally pigmented inside and outside marks -- and which never has a ' spot ' on the outer portion of the 1st segment -- rather it has a horizontal flag). 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 quadripunctatus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oecanthus_quadripunctatus.
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
This species is the most consistently found close to the ground of all 17 tree cricket species found in the U.S. and Canada. Generally found on grasses, plants and weeds less than 3 feet above ground -- and often less than 1 foot above ground.
Geographic Range
This is the only species of Tree Cricket documented as being found in all 48 states of the contiguous United States.
Seasonal Activity
Typically hatch in June and mate in September and October -- depending on location.
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.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Oecanthus quadripunctatus. 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 Four-spotted Tree Cricket (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , David Ferguson , Wisconsin Oecanthinancy
Frequently Asked Questions About Four-spotted Tree Cricket
What is Four-spotted Tree Cricket?
Four-spotted Tree Cricket (Oecanthus quadripunctatus) is a species in the family Oecanthidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Four-spotted Tree Cricket?
The outer marks on first and second antennal segments usually less heavily pigmented than inner marks; outer mark on first segment is usually round. (Compared to Black-horned TC which has equally pigmented inside and outside marks -- and which never has a ' spot ' on the outer portion of the 1st segment -- rather it has a horizontal flag).
Where is Four-spotted Tree Cricket found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | This species is the most consistently found close to the ground of all 17 tree cricket species found in the U.S. and Canada. Generally found on grasses, plants and weeds less than 3 feet above ground -- and often less than 1 foot above ground. |
| Range | This is the only species of Tree Cricket documented as being found in all 48 states of the contiguous United States. |
When is Four-spotted Tree Cricket active?
Four-spotted Tree Cricket: seasonal activity - Typically hatch in June and mate in September and October -- depending on location..
What is the life cycle of a Four-spotted 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.