GROOMING Tree crickets rely on their antennae to sense their surroundings. They often clean them by slowly passing them through their mandibles to remove debris. . This Different-horned tree cricket is grooming his antennae. This Walker’s tree cricket is grooming his limbs and claws. . This female is carefully grooming her ovipositor. It is interesting that she is paying no attention to the attached spermatophore (white globule) — she will eventually grasp it with her mouth and consume it. . LEAPING This male made a 3 foot leap. . This female Snowy tree cricket had been sleeved on a hibisucus plant for 2 days. A male had been calling nearby both nights. The hope was that the male would travel to her., but he didn’t leave his own spot. When she was released, she immediately headed toward the singing male. . Here she is, after having made several long leaps from atop grasses or plants. MOLTING This is the entire molting process for a Forbes’ tree cricket. . This Two-spotted tree cricket is undergoing its final molt into adulthood. Note the release of the antennae which were still tethered to the exoskeleton. . This newly emerged tree cricket is eating its exoskeleton while waiting for his wings to dry. . BAFFLES This Narrow-winged male tree cricket is essentially increasing the size of his wings and thus the volume and concentration of his song – by positioning himself between these two lobes of a leaf. . This is another example of a Narrow-winged tree cricket using leaves as a baffle to enhance the volume of his song. By positioning himself between these two large leaves, he is preventing sound wave loss – in essence he has created giant wings. For a scientific explanation: https://medium.com/life-on-earth/how-to-make-the-perfect-baffle-an-insects-guide-89f3236a1379 MY FIRST TREE CRICKET – 2006 This … Continue reading Behavior