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An automatic acoustic response system for behavioural studies of duetting insects

T. J. Hammond, W. J. Bailey & G. R. Hammond (2003). An automatic acoustic response system for behavioural studies of duetting insects. Bioacoustics, Volume 14 (1): 3 -14

 

Abstract: 

We present a novel technique for interactive playback of response calls in duetting insects. Many insects, in particular the subfamily Phaneropterinae (Tettigoniidae: Orthoptera) achieve mate pairing through a duet, whereby the female produces a short reply following the male call. Our technique allows the researcher to mimic the female acoustic behaviour, by recognising the male call and producing a female reply within a relevant time frame. Once the generic temporal structure of the male call is known, the researcher may define one or more parts of the male call to be used as triggers for the production of the synthetic response. Sufficient flexibility exists in the system to be used for any species with temporally-structured duet calls.

Keywords: 

acoustic behaviour, insect, duet, playback