Sword-tail crickets are named for the females' dramatically elongated, sword-like ovipositor, which they use to insert eggs into plant stems and soil. Several species occur in Arizona's desert shrublands, riparian areas, and garden environments. Some species, such as the red-headed bush cricket (Phyllopalpus pulchellus), are strikingly colored with red, black, and white markings. Sword-tail crickets are primarily arboreal or shrub-dwelling insects that live and call from vegetation rather than the ground. Males produce soft, high-pitched calls from within shrubs and ornamental plants. They are not household pests and are rarely encountered indoors. Their presence in gardens is generally benign, and they may provide minor pest control benefits by feeding on small insects.