Tree crickets are slender, whitish to pale green or brown insects up to ¾ inch long, with long slender antennae. They live in trees and shrubs, where they feed on aphids and other insects, and to a lesser extent on fruit, flowers, and foliage. The main damage they cause occurs when the female makes a place to lay her eggs by cutting a row of deep punctures in berry canes or twigs of trees and shrubs. The twigs or canes may later break or die at the puncture sites. Tree crickets lay their eggs in the fall, and the young crickets emerge in the spring. There is only 1 generation a year. Tree crickets produce a high-pitched, sustained chirping or trilling sound. They emit the sound in unison; if one cricket stops, it restarts in time with the others. The snowy tree cricket (Oecanthus fultoni) is common throughout the country except in southeastern states. This famous species alters its rate of chirping in relation to the temperature; a good approximation of the temperature can be obtained by adding 40 to the number of chirps made in 15 seconds; the resulting number is the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.