Biotremological research using a DIY piezoelectric contact microphone - examples with insects

Area of Science:

• Bioacoustics
• Insect Ecology
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Studying insect-borne vibrations is crucial for understanding their communication and behavior.
• Existing methods for detecting micro-vibrations can be expensive (laser vibrometers) or complex.
• There is a need for accessible and cost-effective tools for biotremological research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and validate a new, affordable sensor tool for recording substrate-borne vibrations produced by insects.
• To demonstrate the effectiveness of this tool for analyzing insect acoustic signals.

Main Methods:

• A piezo element was used as a contact microphone connected to a digital recorder.
• A 3D-printed microphone box was designed with adaptable substrate or tweezer connections.
• The system was tested on various insect species, including ants, a beetle, a planthopper, and a louse.

Main Results:

• The sensor effectively recorded low-frequency signals (up to 20 kHz) suitable for analysis.
• This method proved faster, easier, and significantly cheaper than traditional techniques.
• First-time recordings of stridulation and male call songs were achieved for several species.

Conclusions:

• The developed sensor tool democratizes biotremological methods for integrative taxonomy and behavioral ecology.
• This efficient and accessible method enhances the understanding of vibrational signals for both professional and citizen scientists.
• The technology offers a practical solution for studying insect acoustic communication.