Acoustics of a small Australian burrowing cricket: The control oflow-frequency pure-tone songs

摘要

For most insects, size determines the call frequency. This paper describes the acoustics of a small brachypterous cricket (Rufocephalus sp.; body length 9.6mm) producing a call with a carrier frequency of approximately 3.2kHz from a subterranean burrow. Crickets such as Gryllus campestris are approximately twice this length and produce a call frequency close to 5kHz. The burrow of Rufocephalus opens via a small hole with a diameter of 3.2mm. The neck of the hole at approximately 1.4mm depth opens to a vertical two-part burrow with an upper vase-shaped chamber 16.1mm in height with a diameter of 9.4mm. This top chamber connects via a 6.4mm high (diameter 5.2mm) neck to a more irregular chamber approximately 18mm high with a width of approximately 11mm. The walls of the top chamber neck and of the tipper part of the lower chamber are smooth and appear to be scaled with saliva.