Family: Gryllidae, True Crickets view all from this family

Description 1/2-5/8" (13-15 mm). Pale green. Wings transparent. Antennae with black spot on 1st and 2nd segments. Male's fore wings paddle-shaped, held flat over back, concealing all but tips of folded hind wings and short cerci. Female's fore wings narrow, curved closely around body. Nymph is almost white.

Food Adult feeds on aphids and caterpillars. Nymph eats flowers, foliage, and young fruit.

Sound A continuous trill. Pitch and harmonics are higher in warmer temperature.

Life Cycle Female selects mate and nudges male until it stops singing. After mating, female cuts pinlike holes in thin bark of woody branches, dabs excrement inside, embeds eggs, and coats them with secretion. They overwinter and hatch in spring. Nymphs attain maturity by midsummer.

Habitat Deciduous woods and forests.

Range Most of North America, except southeastern states.

Discussion Often several males in the vicinity make the same sound, giving a stereophonic effect. Formerly known as a O. niveus.