Interaction of Mechanoreceptor Systems as a Basis for Acoustic Communication in Insects

The influence of the cercal mechanoreceptor system on realization of directional motor reactions (MR) was studied in males and females of the cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus Deg., in response to sonic stimulation in ontogeny (from 1 to 20 days). It was shown that each period of imaginai ontogeny is characterized by specific values of MR thresholds as well as by MR ratios of different signs to various types of sound signals providing biologically adequate behaviour of animals. “Switching off the cercal receptors while the tympanal organs are intact, destroys the mechanism of selectivity and adequacy of reaction to sound stimuli of various biological significance.