Females respond to song by locating the sound source.
Due to morphological similarities between species, the unique nature of cricket song serves as an important mate recognition signal. Ongoing experiments examine the behavioral, ecological, and genetic components of the cricket acoustic system. Since a female cricket tends to prefer the song which is characteristic of her own species, variation in the acoustic system may serve as a basis for ethological isolation between species. We also use molecular phylogenies to track radiation and divergence events, and ultimately, we hope to explain the role that acoustic communication has played in the diversification and speciation of these wonderfully musical creatures.