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The nightly symphony of crickets: How do they use sound to attract mates?
As the night of insects falls and darkness covers the world, the crickets begin to play their unique symphony. These tiny creatures use sound in the moonlight to attract mates, creating a mesmerizing natural concert. The cricket's symphony is not just a collection of notes, but contains the code for reproduction and survival, which is of great significance for understanding biological behavior and its evolutionary significance.
Basic characteristics and distribution of crickets
According to the latest biological research, one of the most representative species in the genus Gryllus is Gryllus bimaculatus, also known as the two-spotted cricket. This cricket is distinguished by two distinct dot-like markings located at the base of the wings. They are widely distributed in Africa, the Mediterranean and even parts of Asia, such as China and Indochina. Because they are easy to keep, these crickets are often used as a feeding source for insectivores and are widely used in zoos and as household pets.
Behavior and survival strategies
In nature, male crickets are extremely territorial and will engage in fierce attacks over mates.
During the mating season, male crickets not only have to resist the challenges of other males, but also need to attract the attention of female crickets. Their most characteristic behavior is singing, in which male crickets rub their wings together to produce a variety of unique sounds.This behavior is primarily performed by opening the jaws, biting the opponent's jaws, and applying pressure with the hind legs.
Cricket chirping and mating behavior
Male crickets have a variety of chirping patterns, but usually produce a loud, sustained chirp at night to attract females and drive away other males. These call patterns can be mainly divided into:
. Male crickets play a soft "mating song" when female crickets approach, and a more intense "mating song" when they mate on the ground."Mating songs" and "Calls"
Strategies and challenges in reproduction
This type of multigamy is called polyandry, and it allows female crickets to use sperm from multiple different males to increase fertilization rates. At the same time, for male crickets, the more sperm they invest, the higher their reproductive success rate. Multiple male crickets competing for limited mating opportunities also promote the occurrence of sperm competition.Female crickets will choose to mate with multiple males to increase their chances of fertilization.
The significance of the new mate hypothesis
The local advantages of hybridization mean that female crickets will prefer new types of male crickets when choosing a mate. According to the so-called "novice mate hypothesis," female crickets can distinguish between past and new mates using scent cues, which not only enhances genetic diversity but also improves the survival chances of their offspring.
This self-referential chemosensory signal is not only simple and reliable, it also helps female crickets maximize the benefits of polygamy.
The role of crickets in the ecosystem
In addition to their reproductive strategies, crickets also play an important role in the ecosystem. They are part of the food chain and provide a rich source of protein for carnivorous animals such as reptiles and insects. In addition, the presence of crickets can help control certain plant populations and promote ecological balance.
The cricket genome and future research
This study not only provides an in-depth understanding of cricket biology, but also lays the foundation for further research in the fields of environmental adaptation, behavioral evolution, etc.The first version of the cricket genome assembly and its annotation released in 2020 showed that the genome of this species is 1.66-Gb long and contains 17,871 annotated protein-coding genes.
With the advancement of science, we have a better understanding of the living habits and biological behaviors of crickets. The nighttime symphony of crickets is not only a part of nature but also a result of evolution, which makes us ponder: What can we learn from the behavior of crickets in such an ecosystem?
