This month will offer videos of ovipositing and photos of oviposited stems…the start of the next generation. OCT 31 – Oviposition Since this female was so cooperative, I managed to get a great video of oviposition. You can see how flexible her abdomen is, and how she maneuvers her ovipositor to drill the channel in the stem. OCT 30 – Grooming of Ovipositor OCT 29 – Grapevine Holes Although not focused well on the actual holes, this photo does give a good view of the removal of bark above each hole. OCT 28 – Crabapple Holes It can be tricky trying to find oviposition holes in crabapple trees. The bark already has numerous marks that resemble oviposition marks. Note the actual Neoxabea bipunctata holes in this first photo are rounder, darker and more recessed looking than the tree markings (second photo). The third photo shows just how difficult it can be to tell which are tree cricket holes, tree markings or other recesses. OCT 27 – Well-plugged Holes The female that oviposited eggs into this stem did a very good job of plugging the holes. OCT 26 – Pre and Post Emergence Although not the same set of oviposition holes, these two photos show plugged holes that will hatch the subsequent season and emerged nymph holes. OCT 25 – Eggs Oviposited into Slender Grapevine Although I am not certain what species oviposited here into this very slender grapevine, at the time I suspected it was Neoxabea bipunctata – only because I had been hearing a male in that area in the weeks prior to finding this. Also, the plugs are recessed – similar to the witnessed oviposition holes in the photos of apple tree branches. OCT 24 – White Sands Tree Cricket Oviposition Holes A female oviposited on white sage … Continue reading OCTOBER