About how exactly the grasshopper publishes its famous chirping, everyone has probably thought in his life. There are a lot of hypotheses on this score, but which one is true?
Frame and mirror
Contrary to popular belief, grasshoppers do not make any sounds with their paws. The stinging apparatus of the Orthoptera insects, which include, by the way, not only grasshoppers, but also locusts and crickets, is located on the upper leathery pair of wings (elytra). Insects emit acoustic signals by rubbing the vein of one elytron (frame or bow) against another elytra, which is called a mirror.
It is interesting that in different species of Orthoptera, the structure of the stridulation apparatus is different, which allows them to display different trills. If the frequency of strikes of the vein coincides with the frequency of vibrations of the second elytron, then the resonance of the sound system emits pure sound signals. If there is no match, the trills of the insect are heard as separate clicks. Experienced chirping entomologists are able to determine which insect is publishing it.
Sounds of music
Any chirping by grasshoppers is done not just for fun, but for a specific purpose. Most often, males attract females in this way. But scientists managed to find out that the different structure of the elytra is due not only to the type of insect, but also to some features of its life and behavior. So, for example, in those Orthoptera species that chirp in tall grass, which can be an obstacle to the propagation of a sound signal, the range of sound frequencies is wider. This is necessary to increase the immunity to interference. But species chirping on the fly do well with a narrower frequency range - after all, sound travels very far in open space.
How chirping occurs
A chirping grasshopper can often even be seen in the grass. Only he moves his legs and wings so quickly that it is impossible to understand what exactly is happening. However, scientists have figured out this too. The chirping process, as it turned out, in most grasshoppers occurs during the closing of the elytra. At the same time, they move in about the same way as the flaps of the scissors. The grasshopper closes and opens the elytra, as a result of which a vibration of a certain purity is transmitted to them, and then rubs them against the bow frame. This is how the sound is heard, which can be heard in the summer in the field or at the edge of the forest.
By the way, females of Orthoptera catch the singing of their cavaliers with a special apparatus, which is located on their paws. In some species, the "ear" is in the sternum.
