INSECTS AFFECTIN'G 1»ARK AND WOODLAND TREES 699 



Black-horned tree cricket 

 OcciDilIiiis fUQriconiis Walker 



This tree cricket may be recognized by its dark or nearly black antennae, the black 

 markings on the basal joints as illustrated in figure 222, and by the rufous and dark mark- 

 ings upon the head and abdomen. It is soniewlial variable in coloring, tliough jiossessing 

 a characteristic ap|>earance. 



This species occurretl in small lunnbers on hard pine at Karner in igoi, 

 and was as abundant as any other species of this genus in that section. 

 Adults were taken in August and September, and the species is imdoubt- 

 edly of some benefit to trees because of its predaceous habits, 

 though shrubs, particularly those with soft wood, may be 

 injured to a considerable extent by the deposition of eggs. 

 This insect was noticed by Dr Fitch in 1856, who states that 

 it is almost as common as the snowy tree cricket ( Ocean - 

 thus niveus I^eG. ), and who treated of it under the name 

 of O. fasciatus DeGeer. This species occurs from the lal- ''''■ -'- "<:';i>'- 



thus nign. 



ter part of July till frost, along roadsides and in open fields, ">-^»'s- """i"- 

 accordina to Mr Beutenmuller, who considers it one of the most ="""=""=' ^"=8- 



^ menls (After Beu- 



common in the vicinity of New York city. Professor Bruner «■'"»'""■ Am. 



■' - Mus. Nat. Hist. 



States that it is almost as abundant in Nebraska as the snowy ^"'- '''^' 

 tree cricket, and that it is a frequenter of meadows and may be found 

 among weeds and grasses, depositing eggs as a rule, in weed stem.s. Pro- 

 fessor Lugger considers it a very common form in Minnesota. It is 

 interesting to note that it occurs in Mississippi, where Mr \V. H. Ashmead 

 detected a small parasite, Antigaster mira bills Walsh ovipositing 



in the cricket's eggs. 



Bibliography 



1894 Beutenmuller, Wm. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Bui. 6: 270 



Four-spotted tree cricket 



Oecanthiis quadripiinctatus Beutm. 

 This species occurs in small numbers during early fall on hard pine at 

 Karner. It has been recorded from Ithaca, Staten Island and a number of 



