Svistella bifasciata is a tiny East Asian cricket, only about ¼ in (6–8 mm) long, that isn't found in the United States. It lives in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China, where males sing a clear, high trill from shrubs, hedges, and garden trees. Its Japanese name, kusahibari, means "grass skylark" in English.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Pale yellowish-brown with dark brown streaks and spots and long antennae. Both sexes have a broad dark stripe along each side; the male's oval forewings carry a few dark spots.
- Voice
- Males sing a continuous high trill, starting in the daytime.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Shrubs
- Hedges
- Forest edges
- Range
- East Asia: Japan (except Hokkaido), Korea, Taiwan, and China. Not found in the US.
Behavior
- Overwintering
- In Japan it has one generation a year and spends the winter as eggs.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- In Japan it is called kusahibari, "grass skylark," because its song was thought to rival a skylark's, and it has long been kept in small cages for its song.
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