Ever notice how a quiet summer evening is actually pretty noisy?
你是否注意到安静的夏夜实际上相当吵？
It’s mostly these guys.
主要是这些家伙造成的
Crickets clearly have a lot to say…
蟋蟀显然有很多话说
That familiar, persistent chirp is an advertisement,
这熟悉而连绵不绝的鸣叫就是它们的宣传
meant to get the attention of… her.
用于吸引雌性
It’s his mating call
这是它的求偶信号
So how’s he actually making the sound?
那它是如何发出这种声音的呢？
Check this out.
我们瞧瞧这个
On the underside of his wings, there’s this little line of tiny microscopic teeth
在它的翅膀下方有一排微型锯齿
All in a row.
整齐成排
It’s called the file.
被称为锉
His wings also have a hard edge – right here,called the scraper.
同时它的翅膀边缘坚硬 就是这里 被称为棘
When he rubs his wings together
当它摩擦其双翅时
the scraper on the bottom wing grates across all those teeth on the top wing
翅底的棘会刮过另一翅顶的整排挫
Researchers call it stridulation.
研究人员称之为“鸣声”
Here it is slowed down.
我们看一下慢动作
His wing strokes happen faster than your eye can see
其翅膀的快速抖动几乎肉眼不可见
For this species, about eight wing strokes in a single chirp.
于这物种而言 挥动八次翅膀才能发出一次鸣声
But not every chirp has amorous intentions.
但并非每一次鸣叫都是为爱发声
If a male runs into another male,
如果一只雄性迎面撞上另一雄性
he also has an angry-sounding rivalry call.
它们也会发出竞争性的怒吼
He’s saying Hey, this is my turf
它正在吼：“嘿 这是我的地盘”
Ok, back to business, drawing in the ladies.
好了 回到正题 吸引雌性
She looks a lot like the males,
雌性外表很像雄性
except she has this long pointy ovipositor, right here
但它具有一根长针型产卵器 在这儿
that she uses to lay her eggs underground.
雌性用其把卵产到地下
Oh also – she can’t chirp.
对了 雌蟋蟀不能鸣叫
Her wings don’t have the same musical instruments that his do.
她们的翅膀不具有雄性那样的发声结构
She just listens to the serenade
她听着小夜曲
with her ears, which are on her front legs.
用她长在前腿的耳朵
That’s one right there.
这里就有一个耳朵
It’s call a tympanum.
这叫做鼓膜
Ok, he’s got her attention.
好了 他吸引了她的注意力
But she’s not convinced.
但她还有些犹豫
So he switches up his tune again, to a courtship call.
所以他改变了曲调以便求偶
It’s quieter, more subtle, like a whisper.
这声音更安静而微妙 像在说悄悄话
Seems as though she likes what she hears.
她似乎喜欢这声音
So, she hops on.
所以 她跳了上去
After a lifetime of crooning, the file on a male’s wing starts to get worn down.
历经一生的轻唱 雄性翅膀上的锉逐渐磨损
His song gets a bit raspy and low.
发出的鸣声变得有点沙哑低沉
Aw, you still got it, buddy.
噢 兄弟 你还是有机会的
Hey you, Lauren here.
嘿 我是劳伦
Insect love can certainly be eye-opening.
昆虫之爱无疑会让人大开眼界
Like in our video about convergent ladybugs,
就像我们的关于聚居瓢虫的视频
who each winter gathered by the thousands in huge piles to… well you know.
成千上万的瓢虫每年冬天会聚在一起 然后你懂的
And some fireflies copy the romantic flashes of other species
有些萤火虫模仿其他物种的炫目的光点
to lure them in for a very special meal.
来引诱它们以便大快朵颐
Thanks and see you soon.
感谢观看 回见