Why Do Only Male Crickets Make Noise?

Insects communicate in diverse ways, one of which is sound, primarily used to attract mates. Among crickets, only males produce sound as females lack sound-producing structures on their wings. Male crickets create a song by rubbing their wings together, attracting females from a distance. This behavior is called stridulation, common among arthropods (insects, spiders, etc.) and is used for purposes such as territorial signaling and defense. Stridulation in crickets has been extensively studied, with males using it to attract mates. They rub their hind legs against a wing to create their unique songs. These songs vary slightly between cricket species, and you can learn to recognize them with practice. Crickets typically sing from hiding places, such as tall grass or rock crevices, to protect themselves from predators. The time of day can also indicate the type of insect singing: crickets start singing at dusk, katydids sing late at night in darkness, and grasshoppers sing during the day.

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