Tree Cricket

a tree cricket, subfamily Oecanthinae, from Eldoret, Kenya, photo © by Michael Plagens

This female tree cricket was hiding on the underside of a morning glory leaf. Eldoret, December, 2012. Length, excluding the antennae, is about 8 mm.

Tree crickets hide by day on the undersides of leaves or stems. This hiding behavior is strongly related to the pattern of camouflage, i.e. the specific location and even the plant species matches the insect's. By and large they feed almost exclusively by night on leaves and flowers. The males also call at night by rubbing their wings together. Each species has a unique song signature.

Gryllidae -- Cricket Family
Oecanthinae -- Tree Cricket Subfamily

More Information:


Kenya Natural History

Copyright Michael J. Plagens, page created 25 June 2013.,
updated 30 Aug. 2017.