Genetic Control of Acoustic Behavior in Crickets

Evidence is presented that acoustic behavior in field cricketsis under firm genetic control. The calling song of adult malesis highly stereotyped and species specific. Hybrids can be madeby crossing two species of Teleogryllus with dissimilar callingsongs. The calling songs of the hybrids are uniquely differentfrom that of either parental species, and in addition the songsof the two reciprocal hybrids are different from each other.Genetic control of song production is polygenic and multichromosomal;sex-linkage of some song determinants is also indicated. Femalephonoresponse to calling song was measured on a Y-maze. Speciesspecificity of phonoresponse was confirmed and in addition,hybrid females prefer hybrid song to either parental song. Thepossibility that calling song production in the male and itsreception in the female are genetically coupled is discussed.