Acoustic-communication
Guides
Oecanthus texensis
Texas Tree Cricket
Oecanthus texensis is a tree cricket species described in 2013 from Texas. It belongs to a genus known for distinctive courtship behaviors, including male singing and metanotal gland secretions that females feed upon during mating. Like other Oecanthus species, it is likely small, green, and cryptic in vegetation. The species was distinguished from congeners based on morphological and acoustic characteristics.
Okanagana
Okanagana is a genus of cicadas comprising approximately 60 described species, primarily distributed in western North America. Species in this genus are generally arid- or cold-adapted, with most occurring in western U.S. states and Canada. The genus includes notable exceptions such as O. viridis, which inhabits temperate deciduous forests of the southeastern United States. Okanagana species are characterized by their acoustic communication, with males producing species-specific calling songs. Several species have been studied as hosts for specialized parasitoids, including the sarcophagid fly Emblemasoma auditrix, which locates hosts through phonotaxis to male calling songs.
Oncopsis
Oncopsis is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Macropsinae. The genus is characterized by pronotal striations that run parallel to the hind margin. Species occur across the Holarctic region, with documented diversity in Europe, Asia, and North America. Many species exhibit strong host plant specificity, particularly for trees in the families Betulaceae and Corylaceae.
Opsiini
Opsiini is a tribe of leafhoppers in the subfamily Deltocephalinae, established by Emeljanov in 1962. The tribe comprises approximately 36 genera and over 300 species, organized into four subtribes: Achaeticina, Circuliferina, Eremophlepsiina, and Opsiina. Members are distributed across the Palearctic and Oriental regions, with particular diversity in arid and semi-arid zones of Central Asia and China. Several species groups within Opsiini have been subject to intensive taxonomic revision due to cryptic species complexes distinguishable primarily by male vibrational acoustic signals rather than morphology.
Orchelimum
meadow katydid
Orchelimum is a genus of meadow katydids in the family Tettigoniidae, comprising 21 described species. These insects are characterized by their exceptionally long, thread-like antennae and are among the most abundant orthopterans in eastern North America and adjacent Canada. Males produce species-specific songs through stridulation, rubbing a file on one forewing against a scraper on the other. Many species exhibit opportunistic predation on other insects, particularly when plant food sources are limited or when seeking additional protein.
Orocharis
Orocharis is a genus of bush crickets in the family Oecanthidae, historically treated as a subgenus of Hapithus. The genus is characterized by flightless species and has been the subject of systematic studies focusing on acoustic signaling behavior. Taxonomic treatment varies across sources, with some authorities recognizing it as a distinct genus and others as a subgenus within Hapithus.
Orthoptera
grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, katydids, bush crickets, wētā
Orthoptera is a diverse order of insects comprising over 20,000 species worldwide, including grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, katydids, and wētā. The order is defined by enlarged hind legs adapted for jumping, stridulatory sound production, and incomplete metamorphosis. Orthopterans are divided into two monophyletic suborders: Caelifera (grasshoppers and locusts) and Ensifera (crickets and katydids). The group originated approximately 300 million years ago, with the divergence between suborders occurring around 256 million years ago.
Petrophila
Petrophila is a genus of aquatic moths in the family Crambidae, described by Lansdown Guilding in 1830. The genus comprises approximately 30-40 species distributed primarily in North America. Larvae are fully aquatic and inhabit flowing water systems, where they graze on algae and diatoms. Adults are diurnal and typically found resting on rocks near water bodies. The genus has become a notable subject of citizen science research due to the cryptic nature of many species, which can be difficult to distinguish without detailed examination.
Phaneropterinae
Leaf Katydids, Sickle-bearing Bush Crickets, False Katydids, Round-headed Katydids
Phaneropterinae is a large subfamily of katydids (family Tettigoniidae) comprising approximately 2,060 species in 85 genera worldwide. Members are commonly known as leaf katydids, sickle-bearing bush crickets, false katydids, or round-headed katydids. The subfamily name derives from the type genus Phaneroptera, meaning 'visible wing,' referring to the exposed tips of the inner wings in many species. The group was first erected by Hermann Burmeister in 1838 and represents one of the most diverse lineages within Tettigoniidae.
Platypedia
Wing-tapping Cicadas
Platypedia is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae containing at least 20 described species distributed across western North America. Unlike most cicadas, males in this genus lack tymbal organs and instead produce sound through crepitation—snapping their wings together or striking them against vegetation. This alternative sound production mechanism enables two-way acoustic communication between males and females, as females also produce sound. The genus occurs primarily in montane habitats, with species segregated by elevation.
Platypedia barbata
Platypedia barbata is a species of cicada described by Davis in 1920. Like other members of its genus, it lacks the timbal organs used by most cicadas for sound production. Instead, it produces sound through crepitation—snapping its wings against its body or substrate. The species occurs in California and is part of a diverse western North American genus comprising 21 species and four subspecies.
Platypedia putnami
Putnam's Cicada, Putnam's Wing-banger
Platypedia putnami is a species of cicada in the family Cicadidae, commonly known as Putnam's Cicada or Putnam's Wing-banger. It occurs in mountainous regions of western North America, typically at elevations around 6,000 feet in evergreen forest understory. Unlike most cicadas, males lack abdominal tymbals and instead produce sound by snapping their wings against vegetation—a behavior termed crepitation. The species has four recognized subspecies distributed across its range.
Platypedia scotti
Platypedia scotti is a species of cicada in the family Cicadidae, described by Davis in 1935. Like other members of the genus Platypedia, males of this species lack tymbal organs and produce sound through crepitation—snapping their wings against vegetation—rather than the typical cicada singing mechanism. The species is known from California and belongs to a group of western North American cicadas often called "wing-bangers" or "wing-tappers."
Platypedia vanduzeei
Platypedia vanduzeei is a small cicada species in the family Cicadidae, native to western North America. It belongs to a group of "wing-banger" or "wing-tapper" cicadas that produce sound through crepitation—snapping their wings against vegetation—rather than using the abdominal tymbal organs typical of most cicadas. The species was described by Davis in 1920 and is known from California and Nevada.
Pseudohylesinus
Pseudohylesinus is a genus of crenulate bark beetles (family Curculionidae) comprising at least 20 described species. Members are small, slender beetles (approximately 2.8 mm length) associated with coniferous trees in western North America. The genus includes economically notable species such as the Douglas-fir hylesinus (P. nebulosus), which attacks Douglas-fir and related hosts. Species in this genus exhibit distinctive reproductive behaviors including acoustic signaling and primary attraction to host volatiles rather than pheromone-mediated aggregation.
Pseudophyllinae
True Katydids
Pseudophyllinae is a large subfamily of katydids (Tettigoniidae) distinguished by exceptional leaf-mimicry. Members typically possess broad, flattened forewings with venation patterns that replicate leaf veins, blotches, and even simulated herbivore damage. The group contains over 20 tribes distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with major radiations in the Neotropics, Afrotropics, and Southeast Asia. Many species are nocturnal and arboreal, inhabiting forest canopies where their crypsis provides effective predator avoidance.
Rhagoletis juglandis
walnut husk fly, black walnut fly
Rhagoletis juglandis is a univoltine tephritid fruit fly that infests walnut husks, primarily in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Adults emerge in mid to late summer and feed on dew and plant sap. Females deposit eggs in batches beneath the husk surface of developing walnuts; larvae tunnel into the inner husk and feed for 3–5 weeks before pupating in soil. The species exhibits distinctive courtship behavior including male low-frequency wing vibration with infrasound, and engages in superparasitism—reusing infested hosts even when uninfested fruits are available. It is a pest of cultivated walnuts and has been introduced to Europe.
Rhyssomatus
Rhyssomatus is a genus of true weevils (Curculionidae) containing at least 180 described species. The genus includes significant agricultural pests, particularly of soybean and other leguminous crops. Several species have been intensively studied due to their economic impact, including R. nigerrimus (Mexican soybean weevil), R. subtilis (black soybean weevil in Argentina), and R. lineaticollis (milkweed stem weevil in North America). Species exhibit diverse life histories ranging from monophagous specialists to oligophagous generalists on legumes.
Ribautodelphax
Ribautodelphax is a genus of delphacid planthoppers in the family Delphacidae, distributed across Eurasia and North America. Species in this genus are known for producing species-specific acoustic signals used in mate recognition. European species are primarily monophagous or oligophagous on grasses, with host plant specialization contributing to species differentiation.
Scolytus mali
larger shothole borer, apple bark beetle, large fruit bark beetle
Scolytus mali is a bark beetle native to Europe that has become invasive in North America. It is commonly known as the larger shothole borer or apple bark beetle, reflecting its association with fruit trees. The species exhibits brief maturation feeding on living but weakened apple trees before aggregating for breeding in response to female-produced pheromones. Both sexes possess a well-developed gular-prosternal stridulatory apparatus and produce characteristic double chirps through head movement, with distinct acoustic differences between stress and attraction signals.
Scudderia
Scudder's Bush Katydids, bush katydids
Scudderia is a genus of bush katydids in the subfamily Phaneropterinae, established by Stål in 1873. Species in this genus are medium-sized insects, 30–40 mm in length, with a transcontinental distribution across North America. They are herbivorous, feeding on flowers as nymphs and woody deciduous plants as adults. Several species are economically significant as pests in citrus orchards and stone fruit production, particularly Scudderia furcata, the fork-tailed bush katydid. Males produce species-specific calling songs using file-and-scraper structures on their forewings, and species identification typically requires examination of the male supra-anal plate morphology.
Syntomeida epilais
Polka-Dot Wasp Moth, Oleander Moth, Uncle Sam Moth
Syntomeida epilais, commonly known as the polka-dot wasp moth or oleander moth, is a day-flying moth native to the Caribbean that has become established in the southeastern United States. The species is notable for its striking aposematic coloration—iridescent blue wings with white polka-dots and a red-tipped abdomen—that mimics the appearance of stinging wasps. Both adults and larvae sequester cardiac glycosides from their host plants, making them toxic to predators. The species possesses the most elaborate acoustic communication system known in the family Erebidae, with females producing ultrasonic signals to attract mates and defend against bats.
Tettigoniidae
katydids, bush crickets, long-horned grasshoppers
Tettigoniidae is a large family of orthopteran insects containing over 8,000 described species, commonly known as katydids in North America and bush crickets in the United Kingdom. The family is the only extant member of the superfamily Tettigonioidea within the suborder Ensifera. Members are characterized by extremely long, thread-like antennae that often exceed body length, distinguishing them from true grasshoppers. The family exhibits remarkable diversity in size, ranging from 5 mm to 130 mm, and occupies varied habitats from tropical rainforests to temperate grasslands across all continents except Antarctica.
Tibicininae
Tibicininae is a subfamily of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, containing at least 140 described species across 10 recognized tribes. The subfamily exhibits a broad geographic distribution spanning the Neotropics, Nearctic, and Palearctic regions. A 2005 taxonomic revision proposed renaming the subfamily Tettigadinae to avoid confusion, though this change was not universally adopted. Genera within Tibicininae include Chilecicada, Tibicina, Selymbria, Hemidictya, and others, with notable centers of endemism in Chile and the Neotropics.
Trigonidiidae
Sword-tailed Crickets, Ground Crickets, Wood Crickets, Trigs
Trigonidiidae is a family of small crickets within the superfamily Grylloidea, comprising two subfamilies: Nemobiinae (wood/ground crickets) and Trigonidiinae (sword-tail crickets). Members are typically small-bodied with diverse habitat associations ranging from woodland leaf-litter to sandy beaches and urban parks. The family exhibits complex acoustic communication, including calling songs, courtship songs, and substrate-borne vibrational signals in some species. Several genera, including Anaxipha and Cranistus, have been documented using drumming behavior during courtship. Many species remain poorly known, with ongoing taxonomic work describing new species primarily from China and other regions.
Trigonidiinae
trigs, sword-tail crickets, winged bush crickets
Trigonidiinae is a subfamily of true crickets (family Trigonidiidae) in the order Orthoptera, suborder Ensifera. Commonly known as trigs, sword-tail crickets, or winged bush crickets, this group contains small crickets with diverse morphological adaptations. The subfamily includes tribes Phylloscyrtini (Americas distribution) and Trigonidiini (worldwide except Antarctica), along with numerous genera distributed across tropical and temperate regions globally. Many species exhibit distinctive traits such as enlarged maxillary palps, sword-shaped ovipositors, and specialized acoustic communication including substrate-borne vibrational signals.
Velarifictorus micado
Japanese Burrowing Cricket
Velarifictorus micado, the Japanese burrowing cricket, is a true cricket native to East Asia that was introduced to the eastern United States in 1959. The species exhibits two distinct life cycle modes: egg diapause and nymphal diapause, which vary geographically across its native range. In North America, it has expanded from the eastern seaboard to the eastern Great Plains and northern United States, with recent observations suggesting it is more mobile and potentially more ecologically impactful than previously assumed.
Xestobium
death-watch beetles
Xestobium is a genus of wood-boring beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly known as death-watch beetles. The genus contains approximately 13 described species, with Xestobium rufovillosum being the most studied due to its economic significance as a pest of structural timbers in historic buildings. These beetles are renowned for the distinctive tapping sound produced by adults, which serves as a mating signal and has inspired their common name. The genus is primarily associated with decayed hardwoods, particularly oak, and has a prolonged life cycle spanning multiple years.
Xestobium rufovillosum
Deathwatch Beetle
Xestobium rufovillosum, commonly known as the deathwatch beetle, is a wood-boring beetle native to Europe that has been introduced to North America. The species is notorious for infesting structural timbers in historic buildings, particularly oak. Adults produce a distinctive rhythmic tapping sound by striking their heads against wood, which functions as a mating signal. The beetle requires wood that has been partially decayed by fungi and cannot attack sound, dry timber.
Zamagiria
Zamagiria is a genus of small pyralid moths in the subfamily Phycitinae. The genus remains unassigned to any tribe within Phycitinae due to uncertain phylogenetic relationships. It is predominantly Neotropical in distribution, with most species described from Central and South America. Females of at least one species (Z. dixolophella) exhibit calling behavior using acoustic signals to attract mates.
Zammara
Zammara is a genus of large, strikingly colored cicadas in the family Cicadidae. Members are distinguished by their bright blue-green coloration and tarsi divided into only two tarsomeres, a diagnostic trait separating them from related genera that possess three. The genus comprises approximately 15-16 species distributed primarily in equatorial Neotropical regions. These cicadas inhabit tropical forests and produce loud, distinctive acoustic calls.