Phonotaxis of male field crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus, to conspecific calling song
Description
In many cricket species, individuals fill sex-specific mating roles. For mate attraction in the field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, males remain stationary and produce a species-specific calling song (senders) whilst females detect this signal and move towards it in a behaviour known as phonotaxis (receivers). Male G. bimaculatus have been observed responding to the calling song of conspecifics, and phonotaxis has anecdotally been reported for males in related species. Here, we aimed to quantify the tuning and intensity of male phonotaxis behaviour in G. bimaculatus by using a trackball system and established acoustic paradigms, and by comparing responses to typical female phonotaxis. Data captured shows the distanced walked (absolutle and relative) toward active speakers playing one of two main experimental paradigms; a syllable repetition interval paradigm (with different pulse periods used between chirps) and a chirp pattern paradigm (with different pulse patterns within a chirp). Data on age and date were also collected.