Songs of Insects

Fast-calling Tree Cricket (Oecanthus celerinictus)

Song of a Fast-calling Tree Cricket (scroll down for explanation and additional recordings!).

Beautiful, elegant, and delicate are words that aptly describe the Fast-calling Tree Cricket. An inhabitant of weedy fields and roadsides, this species prefers broad-leafed plants, where individuals can sometimes be found during the day, perched in the open near the top of a plant. Finding a calling male at night is much more difficult because they perch lower and and are very sensitive to disturbance. Color varies from pale, reddish yellow to light green.

Base of antennae.

Fast-calling Tree Cricket

Song: As the common name implies, the song is a very rapid trill, with about 65–70 pulses per second, generally delivered without pause. The frequency is about 4 kHz. This is one of the few tree crickets that regularly sings during the day. The song is loud and difficult to localize.
 
 
 
 

Sonogram of a Fast-calling Tree Cricket. © Wil Hershberger.