Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Oecanthus niveus - Narrow-winged Tree Cricket

Oecanthus niveus - female Oecanthus niveus - female Narrow-winged Tree Cricket - Oecanthus niveus - female narrow winged tree-cricket? - Oecanthus niveus - male Tree cricket - Oecanthus latipennis? - Oecanthus niveus - male Oecanthus niveus? - Oecanthus niveus Oecanthus niveus - male Oecanthus niveus? - Oecanthus niveus - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
Suborder Ensifera (Long-horned Orthoptera)
Infraorder Gryllidea (Crickets)
Family Gryllidae (True Crickets)
Subfamily Oecanthinae (Tree Crickets)
Genus Oecanthus (Common Tree Crickets)
No Taxon (Niveus Group)
Species niveus (Narrow-winged Tree Cricket)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Orig. Comb: Gryllus niveus De Geer 1773
Explanation of Names
nive - Latin for snowy (1)
Size
Length 13–16 mm - SINA
Identification

O. niveus can be ID'd by the markings on the first two segments of the antennae. The first segment (the scape) has a thick black ' J ' atop a white field. The second segment (the pedicel) has a small black mark against a white field.
The vertex of the head is a reddish orange which sometimes extends down into the pronotum - otherwise a dark strip runs down the center of the pronotum. The antennae and limbs are pale. The body is green - and the wings usually give the female's body a 'marbled' appearance.
Range
TX-FL-MA-SD / ON-PQ - Map - SINA
BugGuide records extend this range to Maine.
Habitat
Narrow-winged Tree Crickets commonly dwell in trees. They can be found in a variety of settings including man-made structures and are attracted to lights. They are rarely found close to the ground, but can be found on very tall plants.
Season
Tend to hatch in June and mate from August to November -- but depends on location.
Life Cycle
Undergo a paurometabolous development (Gradual Metamorphosis). Nymphs resemble small adults and gradually develop external wing buds. They live in the same habitat as adults, typically taking the same food.
Click on an image to view the life cycle:
Remarks
A great source for 'everything you ever wanted to know about tree crickets' is "The Tree Crickets of New York: Life History and Bionomics" (2)
See Also

Internet References
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/buzz/584a.htm - Singing Insects of America (SINA)
http://oecanthinae Tree Crickets - information and photos
Works Cited
1.Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms
Donald J. Borror. 1960. Mayfield Publishing Company.
2.The tree crickets of New York: life history and bionomics.
Bentley B. Fulton. 1915. 1915. New York Agricultural Experiment Station.