﻿ Understanding crickets | Living the Country Life
Understanding crickets  Chirping crickets are a hallmark of
summer. They get in the house and sing too. Whether they're
chirping in the bushes or under your bed, they're an interesting
insect.  Radio interview source: Donald Lewis, Extension
Entomologist, Iowa State University  It's relaxing to sit on the
porch on a warm summer evening and listen to the crickets.
However, it's hard to appreciate them when they get in the house
and you  can't find them. Donald Lewis is an extension
entomologist at Iowa State University. He says the melodic
chirping sound is made by the males when they rub their wings
together. He says "it's a guy thing." "An announcement to other
guys, other males, that I am here, this is mine, you move out, I
was here first," he says. "And the other of course is the males
are trying to attract attention of the females. The chirp for a
cricket is the equivalent of hey baby, hey baby, hey baby, and
they're trying to attract females over to the