Meeting Abstract
Tree crickets are members of a very small group of insects who are known to manufacture a tool. They use this tool, called a baffle to increase the loudness of their mating calls. Here we show that tree crickets can optimize this tool. Using finite element modelling we quantified the efficiencies of baffles of different designs and found that design has a strong influence on tool efficiency. We then conducted a series of experiments which tested whether the crickets chose the best material for making the tool, and whether they modified it to make it acoustically optimal. Indeed, given the opportunity, tree crickets could made an optimal tool. Our analysis suggests that both tree cricket tool manufacture and optimization are based on a simple behavioural heuristic that is likely to be inherited. Thus our data suggests that the flexibility required for tool optimization can be achieved by a simple and heritable behavioural programme.
