A female Black-horned Tree Cricket oviposited eggs into this stem from a Chrysanthemum plant. She first chews at the spot where she wants to insert an egg. Then she moves up the stem until the tip of her ovipositor can be inserted into the exposed spot on the stem. She twists, writhes and pumps until her ovipositor is deeply inserted inside the stem, and then deposits the egg. She then withdraws the ovipositor...walks back down the stem and immediately begins sealing the hole with chewed stem and secretions from her mouth.
One portion of the stem was opened to inspect for eggs. This 3mm egg was found nestled within the pith of the stem. The whitish cap on the bottom end is actually the end where the tiny cricket's head will develop. Each species has a different appearance to this cap. (The white strip running along the top is artifact from lighting.)
This is a split opened thistle stem -- showing three eggs of a Black-horned Tree Cricket.
This photo shows a tiny 3mm long egg lying inside a stem.
This shows how the eggs are spaced and positioned inside this very narrow stem. With so much of the inside of the stem being taken up by eggs, it is easy to see one way in which tree crickets can sometimes cause damage to plants or trees.
Hatching Sequence -- Black-Horned Tree Cricket from Red-twig Dogwood stem
This photo shows a developed embryo ready to emerge from the egg. The stem was opened to inspect it for unhatched eggs. This embryo (soon to be nymph) began emerging as soon as the two sides of the stem were separated.
The nymph wriggles and writhes to exit the egg. It looks more like a maggot at this point - since its limbs and antennae are tightly positioned against the body.
This photo shows the limbs becoming free. the back is arched and the abdomen looks more relaxed.
The nymph begins using its legs to pull itself free from the egg case. The antenna are beginning to extend upward.
After 15 minutes of working to get free, this little Black-horned Tree Cricket nymph is able to walk and jump. The antennae are still tethered under the abdomen. One tip is visible under the hind leg (where the abdomen becomes visible).
OTHER STEMS WITH OVIPOSITED EGGS MARKINGS
This Red-twig Dogwood stem was placed in a 'Oecanthinarium' to provide a firm structures for a Forbes' Tree Cricket pair to climb on. The pair were found in a patch of Catmint plants, and there were no dogwoods in the area. Nevertheless, the female chose this stem to oviposit her eggs. The whitish patches are sealant over the holes. The brownish spots are where the female removed outer bark to use for the sealing plug.
Goldenrod is a favorite amongst Black-horned Tree Crickets. Apparently the female clears the row and then oviposits within the cleared area. The patch was approximately one inch long.
The three round circles are markings made by a Two-spotted Tree Cricket after her eggs were oviposited in a crabapple tree.
EGG CAPS
The cap of the egg of Forbes' Tree Cricket is round with a white mesh-like coating.
The cap of a Black-horned Tree Cricket also has a white coating - but is slightly more tapered at the tip.
A female Black-horned Tree Cricket oviposited eggs into this stem from a Chrysanthemum plant. She first chews at the spot where she wants to insert an egg. Then she moves up the stem until the tip of her ovipositor can be inserted into the exposed spot on the stem. She twists, writhes and pumps until her ovipositor is deeply inserted inside the stem, and then deposits the egg. She then withdraws the ovipositor...walks back down the stem and immediately begins sealing the hole with chewed stem and secretions from her mouth. 
One portion of the stem was opened to inspect for eggs. This 3mm egg was found nestled within the pith of the stem. The whitish cap on the bottom end is actually the end where the tiny cricket's head will develop. Each species has a different appearance to this cap. (The white strip running along the top is artifact from lighting.)
This is a split opened thistle stem -- showing three eggs of a Black-horned Tree Cricket. 
This photo shows a tiny 3mm long egg lying inside a stem.
This shows how the eggs are spaced and positioned inside this very narrow stem. With so much of the inside of the stem being taken up by eggs, it is easy to see one way in which tree crickets can sometimes cause damage to plants or trees.
This photo shows a developed embryo ready to emerge from the egg. The stem was opened to inspect it for unhatched eggs. This embryo (soon to be nymph) began emerging as soon as the two sides of the stem were separated. 
The nymph wriggles and writhes to exit the egg. It looks more like a maggot at this point - since its limbs and antennae are tightly positioned against the body.
This photo shows the limbs becoming free. the back is arched and the abdomen looks more relaxed.
The nymph begins using its legs to pull itself free from the egg case. The antenna are beginning to extend upward.
After 15 minutes of working to get free, this little Black-horned Tree Cricket nymph is able to walk and jump. The antennae are still tethered under the abdomen. One tip is visible under the hind leg (where the abdomen becomes visible). 
This Red-twig Dogwood stem was placed in a 'Oecanthinarium' to provide a firm structures for a Forbes' Tree Cricket pair to climb on. The pair were found in a patch of Catmint plants, and there were no dogwoods in the area. Nevertheless, the female chose this stem to oviposit her eggs. The whitish patches are sealant over the holes. The brownish spots are where the female removed outer bark to use for the sealing plug. 
Goldenrod is a favorite amongst Black-horned Tree Crickets. Apparently the female clears the row and then oviposits within the cleared area. The patch was approximately one inch long.
The three round circles are markings made by a Two-spotted Tree Cricket after her eggs were oviposited in a crabapple tree.
The cap of the egg of Forbes' Tree Cricket is round with a white mesh-like coating.
The cap of a Black-horned Tree Cricket also has a white coating - but is slightly more tapered at the tip.
