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Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Arthropoda Subphylum - Hexapoda Class - Insecta Subclass - Pterygota (winged insects) Infraclass - Neoptera (wing-folding insects) Order - Orthoptera (crickets, grasshoppers, katydids) Suborder - Ensifera (long antennae) Family - Gryllidea (true crickets) Subfamily - Oecanthinae (tree crickets) Genus - Neoxabea Genus - Oecanthus Tree Crickets found in the United States Neoxabea (Genus) List of species under Neoxabea
Oecanthus (Genus) List of species under Oecanthus
One additional species each of Neoxabea and Oecanthus are also said to occur in the US:
An unnamed species found in the 1960's in Mexico by Dr. R. D. Alexander has been discovered in southern Texas. It is in the process of being described.
Antennal Markings -- most species of tree crickets have black markings on their antenna. These markings are useful in making an identification of species. Here are some examples:
Photos of species
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This is one variation for Black-horned Tree Cricket. The two marks on the 2d segment join at the bottom to form a ' V ' pattern.
Another variation in antennal markings for Black-horned Tree Cricket. The two marks on the 2d segment are separated.
The antennal markings for Forbes' Tree Cricket are similar in configuration to Black-horned Tree Cricket, and often the head color is similar to that of Four-spotted Tree Cricket. The only way to make an ID for Forbes' is by the calling rate of the male in given temperatures.
The Fast-calling Tree Cricket is another member of the nigricornis group -- whose antennal markings are all very similar. The Fast-calling's 2nd segment has two vertical lines -- the outer being shorter than the inner marking. 
An additional set of markings that is helpful in IDing Fast-calling tree crickets is on the 'knee' of the hind leg. There are three black marks on the femoral-tibal joint, and 2 black rings on the tibia. These are NOT, however, ALWAYS evident.
The markings for the Four-spotted Tree Cricket are somewhat similar to the Black-horned; however, note the difference in the outer marking on the 1st segment. Instead of a tapered horizontal marking on the outer edge, there is a round spot.
Although the Pine Tree Cricket is easily identified by coloration, they do have markings much like the Black-horned Tree Cricket.
These are the markings for Narrow-winged Tree Cricket. Note the ' j' shape of the marks -- with the tell-tale hook on the 1st segment.
The markings for Davis' Tree Cricket are similar to those of the Narrow-winged Tree Cricket. Note, however, that the mark on the 1st segment does not have that ' j ' like hook. Rather, the markings have an 'upside down exclamation mark' appearance. (Hence the name - Oecanthus exclamationis.)
The Snowy Tree Cricket has two black spots, basically equal in size, one on the 1st segment and one on the 2d segment.
The antennal markings on Alexander's tree cricket is very similar to the Snowy tree cricket. The only way to ID this tree cricket is by its song. Snowy tree crickets have a continuous chirping pattern; Alexander tree crickets have bursts of chirps and then pauses before another burst of chirps.
The Different-horned Tree Cricket has black antennae. The first two segments are deep red and have a black straight line.
Two-spotted Tree Cricket (N. bipunctata) - male
Two-spotted Tree Cricket (N. bipunctata) - female
Black-horned Tree Cricket (O. nigricornis) - male
Black-horned Tree Cricket (O. nigricornis) - female
Fast-calling Tree Cricket (O. celerinictus) - male
Alexander's tree cricket - currently being described and is being named for Dr. R. D. Alexander (who discovered this as a new species in Mexico in the 1960's).
Different-horned Tree Cricket ( O. varicornis) - male. These tree crickets are very similar in appearance to Western Tree Cricket - and can only be ID'd by their call and by range (they are only found in Texas.)
Male Snowy tree cricket ( O. fultoni ).
