This Two-spotted Tree Cricket pair are mating in a grape plant. The male grasps a slender stem and dangles while singing. The female grasps onto the male and flails about while feeding from his metanotal gland. Those in the Oecanthus genus remain in a stable position on all 6 legs -- but these in the Neoxabea genus use this dangling method. You can see the small whitish orb on the female, the spermatophore, which was inserted by the male while the female was feeding from the metanotal gland. The male will continue to sing to prevent the female from detaching the spermatophore too early. To see this pair performing this post-mating ritual go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNuwlsCwIpc
This pair of Forbes' Tree Crickets are in position for the female to feed from a small gland on the upper back of the male. The gland is located just behind the wings. As the female feeds, he will transfer a spermatophore to her. To see the female feeding from this metanotal gland go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyiSxTSbBUM
This pair of Black-horned Tree Crickets has just completed a transfer of a spermatophore from the male to the female. It is barely noticeable at the left rear tip of the female -- appearing as a tiny pinkish gold orb. To see a transfer take place go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23RSKm5dxGo
This female Black-Horned Tree Cricket has a male's spermatophore attached. Close inspection reveals the tube inserted into her copulatory opening.
This photo of a female Black-horned Tree Cricket shows the small tube of the spermatophore. The tube is inserted into the copulatory opening by the male. As she feeds from the male's metanotal gland, while positioned slightly behind but on top of the male, the female bends her abdomen down as the male arches his abdomen up - so that he is able to insert the tube.
OVIPOSITING SEQUENCE
This Forbes' female Tree Cricket is ovipositing eggs into the stem of a Red-twig Dogwood stem. To see this female ovipositing on video go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzDQ471Vrhs
She works the ovipositor in and out, over and over, to get it deeper into the stem.
She uses a variety of movements during the laying process. Here she is thrusting -- note the bent abdomen.
Here she is twisting the ovipositor.
She is withdrawing her ovipositor after laying the egg deep into the stem. You can see now how much of her ovipositor had been inside the stem.
After the egg has been laid deep in the stem, she immediately walks backward and begins sealing the hole with chewed stem and secretions from her mouth.
This Two-spotted Tree Cricket pair are mating in a grape plant. The male grasps a slender stem and dangles while singing. The female grasps onto the male and flails about while feeding from his metanotal gland. Those in the Oecanthus genus remain in a stable position on all 6 legs -- but these in the Neoxabea genus use this dangling method. You can see the small whitish orb on the female, the spermatophore, which was inserted by the male while the female was feeding from the metanotal gland. The male will continue to sing to prevent the female from detaching the spermatophore too early. To see this pair performing this post-mating ritual go to: 
This pair of Forbes' Tree Crickets are in position for the female to feed from a small gland on the upper back of the male. The gland is located just behind the wings. As the female feeds, he will transfer a spermatophore to her. To see the female feeding from this metanotal gland go to: 
This pair of Black-horned Tree Crickets has just completed a transfer of a spermatophore from the male to the female. It is barely noticeable at the left rear tip of the female -- appearing as a tiny pinkish gold orb. To see a transfer take place go to: 
This female Black-Horned Tree Cricket has a male's spermatophore attached. Close inspection reveals the tube inserted into her copulatory opening.
This photo of a female Black-horned Tree Cricket shows the small tube of the spermatophore. The tube is inserted into the copulatory opening by the male. As she feeds from the male's metanotal gland, while positioned slightly behind but on top of the male, the female bends her abdomen down as the male arches his abdomen up - so that he is able to insert the tube.
This Forbes' female Tree Cricket is ovipositing eggs into the stem of a Red-twig Dogwood stem. To see this female ovipositing on video go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzDQ471Vrhs
She works the ovipositor in and out, over and over, to get it deeper into the stem.
She uses a variety of movements during the laying process. Here she is thrusting -- note the bent abdomen. 
Here she is twisting the ovipositor.
She is withdrawing her ovipositor after laying the egg deep into the stem. You can see now how much of her ovipositor had been inside the stem.
After the egg has been laid deep in the stem, she immediately walks backward and begins sealing the hole with chewed stem and secretions from her mouth.
