Texas Tree Cricket
Oecanthus texensis
This record describes Oecanthus texensis (species). Recorded family: Oecanthidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This document is offered as a learning tool for determining ID via male's song pulses per second. These are most accurate if a thermometer is placed as close as possible to the perch area of the singing male. O. texensis O. californicus
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
Geographic Range
se.CA to OK to s. Mex. - Map
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Two generations per year in southernmost locations of range.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Oecanthus texensis Symes & Collins, 2013
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Oecanthus texensis. 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 Texas Tree Cricket (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Wisconsin Oecanthinancy; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Tree Cricket
What is Texas Tree Cricket?
Texas Tree Cricket (Oecanthus texensis) is a species in the family Oecanthidae, within the order Orthoptera.
Where is Texas Tree Cricket found?
Range: se.CA to OK to s. Mex. - Map
What is the life cycle of a Texas Tree Cricket?
Two generations per year in southernmost locations of range.