Traffic noise makes crickets pick bad mates

Female crickets listen to male songs to pick their partner. It seems they're getting distracted...
16 February 2021
Presented by Phil Sansom
Production by Phil Sansom.

CRICKET

A cricket.

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Many of us may love driving, but nature certainly doesn’t love us doing it! Alongside the pollution, there’s the noise of traffic, which isn't just a nuisance for humans. Lots of research shows man-made noise affects nearby animals, and now another study shows that insects are also being impacted: female crickets get so confused by road noise that they struggle to pick the best potential suitor from the pack. Zoologist Adam Bent explained the situation to Phil Sansom…

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