Behavioral reaction of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus to changes in sonic stimulation

A study was made of the characteristics of an innate behavioral reaction of crickets, in the form of termination of running, in response to a change in sound stimulus. The insects were fastened at the pronotum to a holder and placed on a glass plate in such a way that it was possible for them to run spontaneously. While running, the insects were subjected to sequential sound pulses (24-msec duration, 5-kHz carrier frequency) with a period of 42 msec, changed to a second sequence of the same pulses with a period of 1 sec. Change in signals resulted in a termination of running. We demonstrated that the animals stop running directly in response to a change in signals. It is suggested that this method may be used for the study of functional capabilities of the aural system of insects.