Subject: Type of cricket?
Geographic location of the bug: Goshen, NY
Date: 10/22/2017
Time: 01:59 PM EDT
This looks similar to a cricket but it was very fast and only ~3/8 of an inch long. Its antenna were in constant motion. Its a rather mild day for October about 72 degrees. my first impression was that it was a predator.
How you want your letter signed: Rick Hansen
Dear Rick,
This is a Red Headed Bush Cricket. According to BugGuide: “Distinctive appearance. Red head/throrax, pale legs, dark bluish-black forewings. Last segment of palp is black and oval flattened shape. Female forewings are convex similar to beetles.”
I saw this for the first time a few minutes ago. I’ve lived here in semi-rural south MS for almost 13 years and never noticed on before. It was crawling on the arm of my porch rocker when I sat down and saw it. No more than 1/2 inch long. I couldn’t believe the colors, and it’s antennae never stopped moving. I didn’t know if it could bite or not, so I moved it with the flyswatter to the floor, and it swiftly walked away into the garden.