'Evolution in real time': silent crickets still singing for a mate
by Patrick Barkham from Environment | The Guardian on (#3FVF8)
Scientists are fascinated that Hawaiian crickets still perform their vigorous mating call, despite having evolved to lose their song to avoid a deadly new parasite
Male field crickets traditionally attract a mate by "singing" - creating a sound by rhythmically scraping their wings back and forth.
In Hawaii, however, their song attracts a less welcome female: parasitic flies, whose larvae devour and kill the crickets from the inside out.
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