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Song recognition and localization in the phonotaxis behavior of the field cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The hypothesis that a sound must be both localizable and recognizable for positive phonotaxis towards this sound to occur was tested in Gryllus bimaculatus.

  2. 2.

    Tethered females were allowed to walk on a non-compensating treadmill. Songs were played from two loudspeakers, one positioned to the side and another positioned directly above the cricket, so crickets could localize sounds from the side but not from the top speaker.

  3. 3.

    Calling song chirps with an ineffective pulse (syllable) period were first played from the side speaker. These chirps failed to elicit positive phonotaxis. When these ineffective chirps were interleaved with top speaker playbacks of chirps that had an appropriate pulse period, females began to walk toward the side speaker. So it is not necessary for a sound to be both localized and recognized (re: pulse period) for positive phonotaxis to this sound to occur.

  4. 4.

    Additional experiments were run to test how chirp rhythm affected phono taxis. Ineffective (slow) chirps played from the side speaker failed to elicit phonotaxis. However, phonotaxis was elicited when these slow, ineffective chirps were interleaved with tone bursts played from the top speaker. This further demonstrates the importance of the interaction of calling song temporal properties in eliciting phonotaxis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Villanova University, 19085, Villanova, PA, USA

    John A. Doherty

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  1. John A. Doherty
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Doherty, J.A. Song recognition and localization in the phonotaxis behavior of the field cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). J Comp Physiol A 168, 213–222 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218413

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218413

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