The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Tree-cricket

TREE-CRICKET, one of the small, almost colorless crickets of the genus Œcanthus, specifically the snowy cricket (Œ. niveus), whose two-syllabled rhythmic night-song is one of the most familiar summer noises of eastern America. This song varies greatly in pitch and rapidity according to the temperature and other conditions. In the day-time the insect trills in a different voice. Consult Howard, ‘The Insect Book’ (New York 1901), wherein will be found extensive references to other works.