Innovation Anthology #19:
When it comes to studying the evolution of mating behavior, the species of choice for Dr. Bill Cade is the cricket.
Not only is Dr. Cade the President of the University of Lethbridge, he’s also a world renowned developmental biologist.
In 1970, he discovered there’s a parasitic fly that listens for the mating song of the male cricket. Then the fly homes in the cricket, deposit its eggs, and the larvae feed on the cricket til it dies.
For some reason, this ever present danger has not bred singing out of male crickets.
BC: Males have a calling song which is the rhythmic one we associate with summer evenings that attracts females. They have an aggressive song which they use when they fight with other males and they have a courtship song which sounds like a very soft russtling of leaves which they use once they have actually touched a female with their antennae and it entices her to mate.
Female crickets listen with ears that are located near their knees, evaluating the males by the quality of their songs.
Dr. Cade believes these observations are helping biologists better understand why when it comes to mating, in the natural world males are competitive and females choosey.
Thanks today to The University of Lethbridge.
FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY, I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
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University of Lethbridge
In 2007 The University of Lethbridge celebrated its 40th anniversary. The U of L campus is home to the world renowned Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience. The University is also a centre of expertise on water and remote sensing.
For more interviews with University of Lethbridge researchers, check out the website for Innovation Alberta. (2001-2008)
Program Date: 2007-03-20