Snowy Tree Cricket Facts

Thermometer Cricket

The snowy tree cricket earned its nickname, the thermometer cricket, because the frequency at which it produces its song is directly related to the temperature of the air. In the eastern half of the Untied States, adding 40 to the number of song repetitions in 13 seconds gives you the air temperature. For instance, if you hear 25 snowy tree cricket chirps in 13 seconds in New Jersey, the air temperature is 65 (25 + 40) degrees. In the western United States, add 38 to all repetitions in a 12.5-second window.

The pleasantly melodic song of the snowy tree cricket appears in a number of films. According to University of Florida entomologists, films and television shows use the cricket's song to indicate a summertime rural or suburban setting. Classic American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne said of the song: "If moonlight could be heard, it would sound just like that." Mature snowy tree crickets reach a length of one-half to three-quarters of an inch. They are pale green with transparent wings. All snowy tree crickets exhibit black round or oval marks on the first and second antennal segment. A single generation lives from July to October of each year.

Snowy tree crickets live in shrubbery and vines around houses, as well as fruit trees not protected with pesticides, broadleaved trees bordering clearings, neglected fences and similar environments. The U.S. Forest Service notes that snowy tree crickets can cause foliage or twig damage in Oregon Ash trees. Snowy tree crickets live in myriad locations throughout the United States. Particularly dense populations occur in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Jersey. Populations occur as far north as Alberta, Canada, and as far south as southern Texas.

The scientific name, or taxonomy, of the snowy tree cricket is Oecanthus fultoni, meaning its species is fultoni and it belongs to the genus Oecanthus. Oecanthus constitutes one of the various genera of singing crickets belonging to the Orthoptera order. All insects of the Orthoptera order, from crickets to grasshoppers, locusts and katydids, have folded wings.