![]() ![]() A study on Gryllus pennsylvanicus (the fall field cricket) indicated that females of this species tend to choose older males (chirp for shorter pulse periods) as mates more frequently than younger males (Judge 2011). Studies have shown that male crickets leading the calls - rather than because of a certain call length or pattern - are more attractive to female crickets. If several crickets are chirping at the same time, crickets will adjust the timing of the sounds produced. What kind of sound makes a more attractive mate? The same study noted that competing noises (from other male crickets and human sources) can impact the phonotaxis direction of female crickets. In an outdoor environment, an approximately 5-decibel dB difference in the male cricket’s chirp can make the difference in whether a female moves (or does not move) in his direction (Hiertenlehner and Romer 2014). Female crickets do not produce sounds but will walk or fly to singing males, following a behavioral pattern called “phonotaxis” (movement toward a sound). Pulse rate and the pattern of the pulses also differ between cricket species.īoth male and female crickets hear through ears that are located on their front legs. Each time the wings rub together, this is called a “pulse” and the pulse rate is impacted by factors such as temperature, e.g., faster rate during warmer temperatures. When this sound is being produced, the cricket’s wings are elevated. This is called “stridulation” and is used to attract female crickets as mates. ![]() Male crickets produce sounds by rubbing their leathery front wings together, i.e., file-like serrations on the wings’ edges rub against a sharp edge (scraper). For comparison, a car’s horn reaches about 110 decibels, and referee whistles can be approximately 115–125 decibels. For instance, in Gryllus bimaculatus (field cricket), the chirping sounds can reach up to 100 decibels, while Gryllotalpa vineae (mole cricket) chirps at about 88 decibels. Richards, PhD, Medical Entomologist Cricket sounds: What do they mean?ĭifferent cricket species produce different types of sounds. ![]()
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