Why Do Crickets Chirp At Night?

Male crickets are musical insects, chirping to establish their territory and to attract mates. Their chirping sounds are produced by rubbing a scraper on one forewing along a row of teeth on the opposite forewing, an act known as stridulation. Different songs serve different purposes, with many species having calling songs to attract females; courtship, or mating, songs to induce a female to mate; and fighting songs to repel other males. While not all crickets are nocturnal, the species that are active at night have the benefit of a quieter and generally safer environment with fewer predators. Tree- and bush-inhabiting crickets usually sing at night, whereas weed-inhabiting crickets, including the common house and field crickets, sing both day and night.