Oak Bush Cricket?

[TeresaW]

Hi all,

Can you confirm for me this is an Oak bush cricket - Meconema thalassinum. I found it sitting on an oak tree this afternoon.







Sorry about the poor quality, the light wasn't great. Thanks for looking

[Jason Claxton]

Affirmative

[TeresaW]

Thanks Jason, just wanted to make sure.

[Jason Claxton]

Did you go looking for this?One method is looking for them at night with a torch, where they can be found as yours on Oak trunks.But I usually find them using a beating tray, which is cheating a bit ,and not all are on Oaks either.Jason.

[TeresaW]

No, actually I was looking for fungi I just happened on this one while searching round the base of the tree.

[Jason Claxton]

Ah thats good,we have had a few attracted to light in the house as well,although it is common in my locality it does not reveal itself often,unless I use a beating trayjason

[TeresaW]

Now, round here, if I went walking through the woods beating a tray, I think I might be met by some white-coated people holding out a white jacket that does up at the back But I like the idea. Similar to my tapping a tree with a stone to attract woodpeckers....it works!

[Jason Claxton]

Ah yes a beating tray is a large piece of canvas,what you do is tap branches with a stick and things fall onto it,and sometimes myself,apparently insects can be er... displaced into an umbrella,this probably looks equally as strange

[TeresaW]

I'm so glad you explained that to me

As you can see I'm a complete novice when it comes to insects. I will admit to having a mental image of walking through the woods with a metal tray. DOH!

[Jason Claxton]

The Oak-bush cricket does drum on leaves with its hind legs.I dont know whether people have replicated this,but certainly not by beating a metal tray,ah you know that one nowJason