The loudest of all the bush-cricket species. A detector may not be necessary to hear its call, however, it will often increase the range for orthopterists whose high frequency hearing is diminishing.
The call may be ventriloquial when heard without a detector, meaning the production of the sound is such that it seems to come from a source other than the individual making it. Therefore, the detector will register nothing when pointed in the direction the sound is coming from.
The stridulation heard on the detector can be likened to an electronic typewriter. The sound is produced by rubbing the wings together at about ten times per second.
To listen to the typical call of the great green bush-cricket, click on the Play arrow.
A great green bush-cricket call is shown below. The divisions represent one second intervals.
In hot weather, the call can be faster; an individual will rub its legs together almost 20 times per second. This sounds is similar to that of a cone-head.
To listen to the faster call of the great green bush-cricket, click on the Play arrow.
The fast great green bush-cricket call is shown below. The divisions represent one second intervals.
The "chip" call of this species is audible without a detector, however, with a detector the range of detection can increase to over 15 metres. The typical sound heard on a detector is similar to a short croak. Dark bush-crickets rub their wings together for about 1/10th of a second and repeat this at one to two second intervals.
To listen to the typical call of the dark bush-cricket, click on the Play arrow.
The dark bush-cricket call is shown below. The divisions represent one second intervals.
Dark bush-crickets also have an aggression call which is heard when two males meet and challenge one another. The sound is an extended "growl" which lasts for one or two seconds.
To listen to the aggression call of the dark bush-cricket, click on the Play arrow.
The dark bush-cricket aggression call is shown below. The divisions represent one second intervals.
This call is largely inaudible above background noise without a detector, even at close range. A detector will increase the range to 15 metres or more. The sound can be described as a slow "chuffing", like a steam train, and it rubs its legs together around three times per second.
To listen to the typical call of the grey bush-cricket, click on the Play arrow.
The grey bush-cricket call is shown below. The divisions represent one second intervals.
This species is much easier to hear with a detector, although it is discernable without one. The sound is a distinctive "chuffing", like a steam train. The difference, however, between a grey bush-cricket and the bog bush-cricket is the latter is twice as fast, rubbing its wings together about six times per second.
To listen to the typical call of the bog bush-cricket, click on the Play arrow.
The bog bush-cricket call is shown below. The divisions represent one second intervals.
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Long winged cone-head and short-winged cone-head
Both species have a faint call that is audible to the human ear. The call of these two cone-head species is distinctive from other bush-cricket species, with the exception of the great green bush-cricket on a hot day when their calls are faster. If a cone-head is detected, it is necessary to make a visual identification of the species to determine which of the two species is present. Both calls are long and can continue for over several minutes.
The short winged cone-head is invariably interspersed with a brief section as if slowing down for one or two seconds, before speeding up again. In comparison, the long winged cone-head does not usually have a slowing down period. Exceptions to these guidelines may occur however. It is possible that the slowing down period can be attributed to the individual changing direction.
In both species during the slower section, the wings are rubbing together about 20 to 25 times per second. During a typical call, the wings may rub together up to 60 to 70 times per second.
To listen to the short winged cone-head typical persistent call, click on the Play arrow.
The short winged cone-head persistent call is shown below. The divisions represent half second intervals.
To listen to the short winged cone-head call with a slower section, click on the Play arrow.
The short winged cone-head call with a slower section is shown below. The divisions represent half second intervals. The slower section occurs between intervals three and five.
To listen to the long winged cone-head typical persistent call, click on the Play arrow.
The long winged cone-head persistent call is shown below. The divisions represent half second intervals.
To listen to the long winged cone-head call with a slower section, click on the Play arrow.
The long winged cone-head call with a slower section is shown below. The divisions represent half second intervals. The slower section occurs between intervals two and four.
This call is a constant electric "buzz" as the wings are rubbed together over 80 times per second.
To listen to the large cone-head typical call, click on the Play arrow.
The large cone-head typical call is shown below. The divisions represent quarter second intervals.
This call can only be heard with a bat detector. The species makes a distinctive "tick" noise that is repeated every few seconds. The sounds is produced by flicking the wings together for about 1/70th of a second. The calls are frequent and on a bat detector it is likely that a series of clicks are heard from a number of different individuals.
To listen to the speckled bush-cricket typical call, click on the Play arrow.
The speckled bush-cricket typical call is shown below. The divisions represent one second intervals.
