Do Tree Crickets Bite? Unraveling the Mystery

Tree crickets are fascinating insects that are more often heard than seen. Belonging to the subfamily Oecanthinae, these delicate creatures prefer to dwell in trees, bushes, and tall herbaceous plants to blend in with their surroundings rather than living on the ground like their other cricket relatives source.

A common question about tree crickets is whether they bite humans. Although these critters are known for their mesmerizing chirping sounds, they are not known for biting humans. Generally, their diet consists of plant material and smaller insects source. Rest assured, tree crickets pose no significant threat to people and are mainly outdoor insects that inadvertently enter homes occasionally.

What Are Tree Crickets

Physical Characteristics

• Tree crickets belong to the subfamily of insects called Oecanthinae
• A tree cricket is typically pale green in color
• Round head with large compound eyes
• Long, thin antennae
• Two sets of wings
• Delicate, slender body
• Males have wing stridulating organs

Tree crickets are not to be confused with grasshoppers, as tree crickets have longer, slimmer bodies and different wing structures.

Habitat

• Prefers living in trees, bushes, and tall herbaceous plants
• Usually found at least a foot above the ground

Diet

• Feeds on aphids, scale insects, and other soft-bodied pests

Distribution

• Found in several genera across diverse regions
• Common in many parts of North America, Asia, and Europe

Comparison with Grasshoppers:

Do Tree Crickets Bite

Comparing with Other Crickets

Tree crickets are different from other crickets such as house crickets in several ways:

• Location: Tree crickets live in trees, bushes, and tall herbaceous plants, while house crickets live on the ground.
• Color: Most tree crickets are delicate, pale green insects, making them blend in with their surroundings. Meanwhile, house crickets are usually brown or dark gray.
• Aggressiveness: Tree crickets are generally less aggressive than house crickets or other ground-dwelling crickets.

Bite Strength

Comparing cricket bites:

Human Interaction

Tree crickets are not known to pose a threat to humans. They do not transmit diseases, nor is their bite considered harmful. In general, tree crickets are more focused on finding food and mates, with their diet mainly consisting of aphids, scale insects, and other soft-bodied pests. They produce a distinct chirping sound by rubbing their wings together with a method called stridulation.

Handling Tree Crickets

If you need to handle a tree cricket, keep these tips in mind:

• Be gentle; tree crickets are delicate creatures.
• Use a cup or container to gently scoop them up.

Possible reactions to handling:

• Best case: Cricket remains calm and allows handling.
• Worst case: Cricket attempts to pinch with its mandibles; however, bite is weak and poses no real harm.

In conclusion, tree crickets are not aggressive, and even if they attempt to bite, their bite is weak and harmless. There is no need to worry about tree cricket bites or interactions with these innocuous insects.

Lifecycle and Reproduction

Eggs

Tree crickets, belonging to the subfamily Oecanthinae, have an interesting reproductive process. Females lay their eggs in the bark of a tree or plant stem. Some examples of egg-laying sites include:

• Tree bark
• Plant stems
• Grass

The eggs remain dormant during winter and hatch in the spring.

Nymphs

After hatching, tree crickets go through several nymph stages before becoming adults. Nymphs resemble small versions of adult tree crickets and shed their skin multiple times as they grow. Some characteristics of nymphs include:

• Pale green color
• Small size
• Delicate appearance

Adults

Adult tree crickets have a distinctive mating call, which is a melodious trill usually heard during the night, particularly from late August until early October (source). Adult males attract females through this call and engage in a fascinating array of reproductive strategies. Adult tree cricket features entail:

• Pale green color
• Delicate appearance
• Wings
• Antennae

During their brief lives as adults, tree crickets focus on reproduction before they perish, giving way to a new generation of these fascinating insects.

Signs of Infestation

Recognizing Cricket Chirping

Tree crickets are known for their distinctive chirping sounds. Identifying this sound is key to recognizing a tree cricket infestation. The chirping of tree crickets makes up a large part of the nighttime chorus of our summers (source). Here’s a comparison of the chirps produced by a tree cricket and a camel cricket:

Damage to Plants and Fabrics

During a tree cricket infestation, you may notice:

• Small holes in leaves and vegetation
• Chewing damage on plants, fabrics, or trees
• Tree wounds and exposed tissue attracting pests (source)

Tree crickets can cause considerable damage to plants by piercing leaves to feed on their content, leading to visible signs like water loss, blackened leaves, holes, cracks, and other impacts on their appearance. Unlike tree crickets, camel crickets don’t usually harm plants but can do damage to fabrics thanks to their mandibles adapted for chewing.

If you’re dealing with a tree cricket infestation, keep an eye out for these factors:

• Water loss: Tree crickets pierce leaves and consume their content, leading to water loss in plants.
• Holes or cracks in plants: Crickets’ chewing may lead to visible holes or cracks in leaves and stems.
• Blackened leaves: Crickets feeding on leaves can cause them to turn black and appear damaged.

Some examples of damage caused by tree crickets are:

1. Holes in leaves and the blackening of surrounding areas
2. Cracks in tree trunks due to their feeding habits

Remember to keep in mind the differences between tree crickets and camel crickets when identifying the cause behind the signs of infestation.

Prevention and Control

Sealing Entry Points

Tree crickets are a subfamily of crickets that are often heard but seldom seen, as they live in trees, bushes, and tall herbaceous plants. To effectively prevent them from entering your home, it’s essential to seal any potential entry points:

• Inspect doors and windows for gaps and cracks, where tree crickets can easily sneak in
• Check for gaps in walls or around utility pipes and wires, and seal them with appropriate materials

Reducing Food Sources

Tree crickets help control pests by feeding on aphids, scale insects, and other soft-bodied pests. In order to discourage tree cricket infestations:

• Keep your garden and surroundings clean, reducing the availability of their preferred food sources
• Store food and waste in sealed containers, making them less accessible to tree crickets

Natural Predators

Encouraging the presence of natural predators can help control tree cricket populations without causing harm to trees and bushes. Here are some examples of natural predators for tree crickets:

• Lizards: These reptiles actively hunt insects such as crickets, and will gladly help you get rid of them
• Frogs: Like lizards, frogs are efficient predators that can help to keep cricket numbers in check

In conclusion, prevention and control of tree crickets can be achieved through sealing entry points, reducing food sources, and encouraging the presence of their natural predators. By following these simple steps, you can protect your home and garden from a potential cricket invasion while remaining environmentally friendly.

Potential Health Risks

Cricket Bites and Infections

Tree crickets (family Gryllidae) are nighttime singers, known for their song and helping gardens by eating aphids and other pests¹. Though they are generally harmless, there are some health risks associated with cricket bites.

• Tree cricket’s bites are rare, but they can puncture the skin, and in some cases, might introduce pathogens².
• House crickets, a relative of the tree cricket, have been associated with spreading salmonella³.
• If bitten, it’s essential to clean the bite area with soap and water and apply antibiotics to prevent infection⁴.

Allergic Reactions

An uncommon, but possible health risk from crickets is allergic reactions.

• Some people might experience swelling, redness, or itchiness after being bitten by a cricket⁵.
• In rare cases, severe allergic reactions may occur with symptoms such as nausea or difficulty breathing⁶.

Prevention is key:

• Avoid handling crickets or areas with a high population of the insects
• Wear gloves when gardening or working around potential cricket habitats
• Keep your home clean and free of crickets

A comparison of Tree Cricket and House Cricket potential health risks:

By being aware of these potential health risks and taking preventive measures, one can enjoy cricket song and their assistance in controlling garden pests without concern.