Songs of Insects

Marsh Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus curtipennis)

Song of a Marsh Meadow Grasshopper (scroll down for explanation and additional recordings!).

The Marsh Meadow Grasshopper is a member of the slant-faced grasshopper group (Gomphocerinae), which contains a number of species that stridulate. Individu- als sound off by rubbing the inner surface of their hind femur against the edges of the forewing, like the bow of a violin being pulled across a taught string. There are “stridulatory pegs” on the femur, which aid in sound production. A very widespread species, the Marsh Meadow Grasshopper inhabits moist areas of tall grasses. Both sexes stridulate.

Marsh Meadow Grasshopper

 
Song: A rapid series of about thirty-five very high pitched raspy notes, starting softly but quickly gaining in volume. Each song lasts about five seconds. The dominant frequency is around 16 kHz.

 
 
Sonogram of a Marsh Meadow Grasshopper. © Wil Hershberger.