Will they visit?: Bush crickets are common around home gardens
Natural Distribution: Common and widespread throughout the South West and Perth region
Metaballus frontalis – wajon (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Caedicia – Beth Shaw (CC BY 4.0) 2
Caedicia – Beth Shaw (CC BY 4.0)
Habitat at a Glance
See Habitat Guide for more detail
Shelter: Camouflaged on vegetation
Diet: Pollen, vegetation, other insects
Water: Shallow dish or frog pond
ReWild Benefit: Pollination, control vegetation growth, pest control
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
‘Bush cricket’ is a very broad term for native tree crickets and katydids. There are thousands of cricket species native to Australia and many remain undescribed by science. Their slow movements and bright green colouration helps them hide in the canopies of trees or dense shrubs.
Their young are usually wingless and rely on dense vegetation for shelter. A garden with plenty of groundcovers and smaller shrubs can provide suitable habitat for young bush crickets.
Novel Shelter
A template of a bug hotel is illustrated below. Things to consider:
Place several bug hotels throughout the garden to avoid disease spread.
Have several smaller hotels throughout the garden to avoid parasite and predator burden.
Position in a north and east position sheltered with dappled shade.
Keep dry and ensure protection from the rain.
Avoid using insecticides around the garden.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
Bush crickets are nocturnal and primarily herbivorous, feeding on plant leaves, shoots, and roots in the cover of darkness. They feed on a large variety of plants including hardenbergia, eucalyptus, kangaroo paws, hakeas, and many others. Some species are omnivorous and can prey upon other insects including smaller crickets.
Providing sources of water
Bush crickets visit bird baths and frog ponds to drink in warm weather. Insects often fall into water sources and can drown. A partially submerged rock or stick can provide a safe avenue for smaller creatures to leave the water safely.
Bush crickets lay their eggs in damp soils. A dampland garden can provide additional breeding habitat.
ReWild Benefits
Bush crickets are ecologically important as pollinators, predators, and as prey for various birds, reptiles, frogs, and mammals. If you find a cricket, you can search on the Atlas of Living Australia to find the matching species and record your sighting!
