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Cricket!


Cricket!
Photo Information
Copyright: Babak hendizadeh (timonejoon) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 201 W: 45 N: 223] (760)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-01
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 30D, Canon 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6, Hoya Circular Polariser
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Tar Lake
Date Submitted: 2006-09-10 10:45
Viewed: 1014
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi my friends
After long absent I try to come back. I miss all pictures.
Place: Tar lake. Near Damavand.

Crickets, family Gryllidae (also known as "true crickets"), are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets (order Orthoptera). They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae.

Crickets are known for their chirp (which only male crickets can do; male wings have ridges or "teeth" that act like a "comb and file" instrument). The left forewing has a thick rib (a modified vein) which bears 50 to 300 minute "teeth". They chirp by raising their left forewing to a 45 degree angle and rubbing it against the upper hind edge of the right forewing, which has a thick scraper (Berenbaum 1995). This sound producing action is called "stridulation" and the song is species-specific. There are two types of cricket songs: a calling song and a courting song. The calling song attracts females and repels other males, and is fairly loud. The courting song is used when a female cricket is near, and is a very quiet song. Female crickets have a long needlelike egg-laying organ (ovipositor).

Crickets chirp at different rates depending both on their species and the temperature of their environment. Most species chirp at higher rates the higher the temperature is (approx. 60 chirps a minute at 13ºC in one common species; each species has its own rate). The relationship between temperature and the rate of chirping is known as Dolbear's Law. In fact, according to this law, it is possible to calculate the temperature in Fahrenheit by adding 39 to the number of chirps produced in 15 seconds by the snowy tree cricket common in the United States.

To hear the mating call of other crickets, crickets have ears located in an unusual spot on its knees. More precisely, the ear drum is located just below the joint of their front legs.

Worldwide there are about 900 known species of crickets. Crickets tend to be nocturnal and are often confused with grasshoppers, which are related but not the same, because they have a similar body structure including jumping hind legs.

In 1970, Dr. William H. Cade discovered that the parasitic tachinid fly Ormia ochracea is attracted to the song of the male cricket, and uses it to locate the male in order to deposit her larvae on him. It was the first example of a natural enemy that locates its host or prey using the mating signal. Since then, many species of crickets have been found to be carrying the same parasitic fly, or related species.
(from wikipedia)
aido, marhowie, Argus, elefantino, scottevers7 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Artur Silver Star Critiquer [C: 43 W: 0 N: 8] (1102)
  • [2006-09-10 10:53]

Hi Babak

wow, that's a superbly colored shield-back katydid (family Tettigoniidae), not a cricket (most crickets are quite drab)

and congratulations for the photo, I like it !

Art

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1097 W: 168 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-09-10 11:13]

Hi Babak,
Welcome back! This is excellent, good detail and colour and a really nice composition with the cricket placed that way. Excellent light and shadow too, a very natural looking image. Nice work!
Regards,
Adrian

Hi Babak,
Nice detail, color, and well positioned in the frame.
Interesting color variations on this one..Excellent notes,
Well done & TFS!

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2615 W: 133 N: 7512] (23431)
  • [2006-09-10 13:32]

Hello Babak,
This is a fine well-composed shot of a cricket with interesting colouring that is both camouflage and warning.
Thanks for this and the info.
Regards, Ivan

Great details and light in this cricket!
Excellent info notes.

Andrea

Hi Babak,
Good to see you back,. That is an excellent macro shot. Amazing colors and detail in that insect. Very sharp detail. He is quite an interesting looking one. well done!
Scott

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