Orthoptera of North Carolina

Family (Alpha):

View	Gryllidae Members:	NC Records
Oecanthus exclamationis Davis, 1907 - Davis's Tree Cricket

Male

Taxonomy

Family: Gryllidae	Subfamily: Oecanthinae	Tribe: Oecanthini
Comments: One of eighteen species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (SINA, 2018), eight of which have been recorded in North Carolina

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:	Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google Images, iNaturalist, GBIF	Technical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Fulton (1915); Blatchley (1920)	SINA 590a.htm
Comments: The basal segment of the antenna (viewed from the front) has a straight, club-shaped mark and the second segment has a shorter black dash; the two together form an inverted exclamation mark (Fultion, 1915). The general color is pale greenish or ivory with the top of the head between the eyes marked with somewhat deeper yellow or reddish.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 12-15 mm (Blatchley, 1920)	Forewing Length: 13-14 mm (Blatchley, 1920)
Singing Behavior: Songs consist of continuous trills that are only broken at infrequent and irregular intervals. At 77 F (25 C), the pulse rate is 81/sec and the dominant frequency is 2.7 kHz (SINA, 2018). The trills of Oecanthus niveus are just slightly higher in pitch -- 3.0 kHz at 77 F -- but are interrupted much more frequently and for longer durations; the pulse rate is also slower at 71 pulses per second (SINA, 2018).
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Distribution in North Carolina


County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Adult Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Associated with oaks; Fulton watched females oviposit in oak branches and bark (Fulton, 1915). This species appears to be common in forested habitats but also occurs in semi-wooded residential areas.

Diet:

Observation Methods: This species is arboreal, often dwelling in the canopy. However, it can also be found in understory trees and shrubs, with dogwoods apparently often used. Best detected by its song.

Abundance/Frequency:

Adult Phenology:

See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5

State Protection:

Comments:

Image Gallery for Oecanthus exclamationis - Davis's Tree Cricket
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Yancey Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Ryan Nelson Union Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall Wake Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall Orange Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Stephen Hall Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger Surry Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger Surry Co. Comment:

Oecanthus exclamationis Davis, 1907 - Davis's Tree Cricket

Image Gallery for Oecanthus exclamationis - Davis's Tree Cricket