Grasshoppers & Crickets – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Red-headed Bush Cricket – 8/26/23

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/26/23 Observation Time: 4:10 p.m. Observation Location: my back yard (Gavins Pond Road) Common Name: Red-headed Bush Cricket (a.k.a. Handsome Trig) Scientific Name: Phyllopalpus pulchellus Comments: I had never seen one of these before I spotted this one on the wall of my house, but apparently they are pretty common. It has really long antennae and strange-lloking mouth parts that look […]

Tree Cricket – 8/13/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/13/20 Observation Time: 1:52 p.m. Observation Location: Mountain St. Common Name: Tree Cricket Scientific Name: Oecanthus spp. Comments: The tree cricket is also known as poor man’s thermometer, because if you count the number of chirps in 15 seconds and add 37 you get the temperature close to the Fahrenheit temperature outdoors. More Information: Wikipedia

Fall Field Cricket – 8/26/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/26/19 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: my back yard (Gavins Pond Road) Common Name: Fall Field Cricket Scientific Name: Gryllus pennsylvanicus Comments: All field crickets are able to make the universally recognizable cricket, “chirping” sounds. Males, though, are able to make the loudest and most noticeable sounds. The chirping is generated by the movement of “scrapers” found on the edge of […]

Katydid – 8/15/16

Observer: Richard Mandell Observation Date: 8/15/16 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Mountain Street Common Name: Katydid Scientific Name: Microcentrum rhombifolium Comments: You might recognize the sounds in this recording of katydids chirping in late summer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob2rEjRz-RM More Information: Wikipedia

Two-striped Grasshopper – 8/11/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/11/13 Observation Time: 4:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Two-striped Grasshopper Scientific Name: Melanoplus bivittatus Comments: This grasshopper is named for the two stripes that run down its back. It is a common agricultural pest. More Information: Wikipedia

Tree Cricket – 9/26/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/26/12 Observation Time: 1:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road (bridge near soccer fields) Common Name: Tree Cricket Scientific Name: Oecanthus spp. Comments: The tree cricket is also known as poor man’s thermometer. It is because if you count the number of chirps in 15 seconds and add 37 you get the temperature close to the Fahrenheit temperature outdoors. More Information: Wikipedia

Carolina Locust – 9/12/09

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/12/09 Observation Time: 11:15 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Carolina Locust Scientific Name: Dissosteira carolina Comments: Diagnostic pronotum ridge is clearly visible in the photo. More Information: e-Nature.com