Crickets are among the most recognizable sound-makers in Ohio’s natural world. Their rhythmic chirping marks the arrival of warm evenings and late-summer nights. One of the most widespread species is a dark, ground-dwelling cricket commonly found in fields, gardens, and even basements.
In shrubs and trees, a pale, delicate species produces a soft, musical chirp so steady that it has been called the “thermometer cricket,” as its call rate changes with temperature. Together, these crickets form the backbone of Ohio’s summer soundscape.