Orthoptera of North Carolina
Scientific Name: Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
« »
View Gryllidae Members: NC Records

Oecanthus latipennis Riley, 1881 - Broad-Winged Tree Cricket

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, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Fulton (1915); Blatchley (1920)SINA 592a.htm                                                                                  
Comments: Easily distinguished from other tree crickets by the strawberry red color on the top of the head and extending up the antennae. No black marks are located on the basal segments of the antennae.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 13-17 mm (Blatchely, 1920)Forewing Length: 13-16, males; 13-1.5. females (Blatchley, 1920)
Structural Features: The wings of the males are broader than in other tree crickets.
Singing Behavior: Songs consist of loud, continuous trills; at 77 F (25 C), the pulse rate is about 54 pulses per second and the dominant frequency about 3.1 kHz (SINA).
Recording playback at normal speed.

Download Video: "MP4"

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: Latipennis is usually associated with low shrubby or weedy vegetation. Fulton (1915) observed it weedy places, including flower beds and shrubs growing around buildings. Walker (1963) describes it as frequently abundant in dense vines and coarse weeds growing along forest-field ecotones and roadsides, as well as out in weedy old fields themselves. He also notes that it is commonly found associated with scrubby oaks growing in dry open woods.
Diet:
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency:
Adult Phenology:
See also Habitat Account for General Successional Fields and Forblands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5
State Protection:
Comments:

Image Gallery for Oecanthus latipennis - Broad-Winged Tree Cricket

Recorded by: Steve Hall and David George
Chatham Co.
Comment: 55 syllables per sec. @ 3.2 khz		 Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan
Ashe Co.
Comment: 38 pulses per second @ 26 kHz
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Kenneth Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Dee Stuckey
Orange Co.
Comment: 19:56, ~79 F; 50 pulses/sec
Recorded by: Steve Hall and Dee Stuckey
Orange Co.
Comment: calling from tall herbs; 34 pulses per sec at 68 F		 Recorded by: E. Corey
Washington Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: E. Corey
Washington Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: E. Corey
Washington Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: ASH
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: FKW
Gates Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment:

MP3 Gallery for Oecanthus latipennis - Broad-Winged Tree Cricket

1 Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Cabarrus Co.
2020-11-20
calling near the ground in weedy vegetation bordering a marsh during the day, 62 F, 37 pulses per second, 2.5 kHz		2 Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
2020-09-11
the call came from the individual photographed, 79F, 10:35 pm, 0.7 m high from the underside of a common milkweed leaf
3 Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Cabarrus Co.
2019-12-04
Calling from near the ground in a clear-cut field, 58F at 2:45pm. Pulse rate = 28/sec.