Acoustic signalling in bladder grasshoppers (orthoptera: pneumoridae)

Abstract

Sound plays a vital communicative role in many Orthopteran insect species. Acoustic signals are often used during courtship behaviour and mate location. The Pneumoridae, commonly referred to as bladder grasshoppers, are a family of insects native to southern and eastern Africa. They are highly adapted for long-distance sound communication, with the males emitting very loud advertisement calls that are typically distinctive to each species. However, relatively few previous studies have examined sound communication within the entire family, and little is known about interspecific variation in signals and how this relates to evolutionary history. The aim of this study was to compare acoustic signal characteristics, as well as the morphology of the sound-producing structures, across multiple species in order to better understand morphological constraints on sound production.