Response of flying mole crickets to three parameters of synthetic songs broadcast outdoors

Abstract

LARGE numbers of flying crickets can be attracted to outdoor loudspeakers broadcasting male calling songs1. Consequently we have been able to investigate the features of calling songs that are important for attraction. Previous investigators have used laboratory-maintained crickets in acoustical environments significantly different from outdoors2–7. Furthermore, they have studied thoroughly no more than one or two of the important signal parameters. We have studied outdoors the responses of free-flying mole crickets, Scapteriscus acletus, to synthetic calling songs systematically varied in these three parameters: carrier frequency, pulse rate and intensity., Mole crickets came in greatest numbers when we broadcast, at unnaturally high intensities, carrier frequencies and pulse rates like those of the natural song.