Why You Hear Crickets Chirping More on Summer Nights

The sound of crickets chirping often sets the ideal summer nighttime scene. While it might not be exactly pleasant to imagine countless crickets nearby, rubbing their body parts together to create a chorus of chirps, the sound can be quite peaceful as background noise. Whether you’re lying in a field or relaxing in your backyard, you’re bound to hear these little guys hard at work. However, these chirps aren’t for nothing.

So why, exactly, do crickets create this signature sound—and what purpose does it serve? We spoke with an entomologist about crickets and their unique chirping abilities. Here’s everything you should know about this unique insect.

How Do Crickets Chirp?

Crickets chirp by rubbing their forewings together, creating a song-like sound that serves a variety of purposes.

“Crickets chirp as a form of communication with each other through a process called stridulation,” says James Agardy, Associate Certified Entomologist. “In this process, specialized body parts are rubbed together, producing the sound.”

One wing has a “scraper,” while the other has a “file.” When rubbed together, this creates the chirping sound we all know well.

“The file is a line of bumps along one wing, and the scraper is the hardened edge of the opposite wing that produces the chirp when rubbed against each other,” Agardy continues.

This stridulation causes vibrations that create the sound of chirping. However, contrary to popular belief, not all crickets can chirp.

“Only male crickets can chirp,” Agardy says. “Females lack the file and scraper required to produce the chirping.”

Additionally, he explains, different cricket species create distinctive chirping sounds. In fact, experts can identify the species by the specific types of chirps they make. These chirps often vary in frequency and pulse durations.

Furthermore, even within the same species, crickets create different-sounding chirps for different reasons. For example, crickets use different chirps for courting versus defending or competing. One chirping song might attract a female cricket while another might scare off predators or other male crickets competing for a mate.

Why Do Crickets Chirp?

According to Agardy, “Males use their chirp for two purposes: finding mates and warning rivals.”

“The louder you are, the further your message will carry,” he explains.

When attracting mates, male crickets will create a beautiful chirping song. The specific rhythmic pattern is enticing to female crickets as an act of courtship.

Territorial chirping, on the other hand, is far more aggressive. These fighting songs are meant to deter predators from coming closer. Additionally, it can communicate the cricket’s presence to other male crickets that might be competing for females. This helps them establish and defend their territories.

Aside from these two main reasons for cricket chirps, temperature also plays a major role. As temperatures and humidity rise, crickets often become more chirpy, so to speak. Their chirping will also slow down as it cools. For this reason, some people even use crickets as a way to gauge the temperature outside. If you’ve ever stepped outside on a particular hot and humid day and heard the crickets going off, you likely understand this concept.

Why Are Crickets Louder At Night?

Many people believe that crickets are only active at night, but that’s actually not true. These insects chirp all day long—you just might not hear them as clearly during the day when there is more background noise. Oftentimes, it’s quieter at night, so the sound of crickets chirping might seem even louder than usual when it’s actually not.

However, many crickets are nocturnal creatures that are definitely more active at night. Additionally, since many of their predators, such as birds and reptiles, are less active at night, this gives crickets the freedom to roam around during this time.

Additionally, the cooler nighttime temperatures are ideal for cricket activity. This makes it more suitable for them to move around and possibly mate. As a result, you might see or hear them in their glory during the late-night hours. But again, that doesn’t mean they aren’t still active during the day, especially when it’s warmer.

Their activity levels also depend on the cricket species. For example, tree crickets and bush crickets are often more active at night. You’ll likely hear them chirping away after dark. On the other hand, field crickets and common house crickets are active all day long, singing their little hearts out (or wings off) at all hours—but they are generally more active and vocal after dark.

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