Crickets in two places fall silent to survive

Silent, "flatwing" crickets appeared independently on two islands over 100km apart

The idea that the trait had evolved twice, at almost the same time, seemed far-fetched. "It still seems amazing to me," Dr Bailey told BBC News.

The first clue was an observation that the mutant, silenced wings on the two islands had two different shapes.

Darwin's Galapagos finches all over again!

And a spectacular example for how surprisingly quickly.

And a clear example of 'convergent' evolution also! That strongly suggests that there are many routes for evolution to home in onto a specific end result.


Thanks for that,

Keep searchin',
Martin

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Not so fast. The females have yet to adapt. When all the real males are gone will the females be able to adapt? This is still early as the crickets and flies are not native to Hawaii.

Because they are mute, these "flatwing" male crickets are hidden from the parasitoid flies and escape being eaten by maggots. That triumph comes at a cost, however, since finding a mate is tricky without a voice. The silent types loiter near the few males still singing away, and intercept females for themselves.

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Not so fast. The females have yet to adapt. When all the real males are gone will the females be able to adapt? This is still early as the crickets and flies are not native to Hawaii.

Because they are mute, these "flatwing" male crickets are hidden from the parasitoid flies and escape being eaten by maggots. That triumph comes at a cost, however, since finding a mate is tricky without a voice. The silent types loiter near the few males still singing away, and intercept females for themselves.

The females don't make any noise with theirs so they don't get attacked by the fly.

Cheers.

The females don't make any noise with theirs so they don't get attacked by the fly.

The females have not adapted to finding silent males though. The silent males cluster around the remaining chirping males most likely still going through the motions of chirping. I see this as a short term evolutionary success that should have failed; it will fail in the long run unless the females adapt to finding silent mates. This wont be easy or quick as there won't be a need until it is too late.

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Have you ever thought that it's the females that are bringing along this adaption in the males while still allowing a few chirpers to be born so that they can mate with the silent 1's hanging around those chirpers?

Cheers.

Have you ever thought that it's the females that are bringing along this adaption in the males while still allowing a few chirpers to be born so that they can mate with the silent 1's hanging around those chirpers?

No crickets don't think or decide which genes to give the offspring. The chirping males carry the chirping genes; and their number will decreases faster as there will be fewer for the flies to feed on. Females or non chirping males will have to evolve a new way to find each other. As of now they are surviving on a disappearing trait. This does show evolution can happen quickly but it may be a dead end.

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So I suppose that you reckon that bees and ants don't either?

Maybe you should just stay away from science subjects as it seems that you have a lot of trouble understanding them. ;-)

Cheers.

So I suppose that you reckon that bees and ants don't either?

Maybe you should just stay away from science subjects as it seems that you have a lot of trouble understanding them. ;-)

There is no "science" on this supposed forum. The scientist are too busy doing science to post.

There is a lack of understanding but it is not on my part ;-)

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There is no "science" on this supposed forum. The scientist are too busy doing science to post.

Well you can always depart for better shores...

Real Science discussions

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So I suppose that you reckon that bees and ants don't either?

Maybe you should just stay away from science subjects as it seems that you have a lot of trouble understanding them. ;-)

There is no "science" on this supposed forum. The scientist are too busy doing science to post.

There is a lack of understanding but it is not on my part ;-)

Of course the lack of understanding is on your part. Evolution never has said that all mutations are going to succeed. In fact it recognises that the chances of a mutation being successful is very small.

Have you ever thought that it's the females that are bringing along this adaption in the males while still allowing a few chirpers to be born so that they can mate with the silent 1's hanging around those chirpers?

Cheers.

Those are kinda harsh words Wiggo, cheers

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Have you ever thought that it's the females that are bringing along this adaption in the males while still allowing a few chirpers to be born so that they can mate with the silent 1's hanging around those chirpers?

Cheers.

Those are kinda harsh words Wiggo, cheers

Sorry Julie, but it does seem to be what the those female crickets are doing to continue the species. ;-)

Cheers.

Of course the lack of understanding is on your part. Evolution never has said that all mutations are going to succeed. In fact it recognises that the chances of a mutation being successful is very small.

You agree with Batter Up yet he lacks understanding? Lets move along as there is a lack of understanding and nothing to see here.

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Have you ever thought that it's the females that are bringing along this adaption in the males while still allowing a few chirpers to be born so that they can mate with the silent 1's hanging around those chirpers?

Cheers.

Those are kinda harsh words Wiggo, cheers

Sorry Julie, but it does seem to be what the those female crickets are doing to continue the species. ;-)

Cheers.

Ok Wiggo, think I might have misread them:) Cheers!

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Sort of kind of think this might fit in here...?

Fluffy dinosaurs :)

Sort of kind of think this might fit in here...?

Fluffy dinosaurs :)

Nice link

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Sort of kind of think this might fit in here...?

Fluffy dinosaurs :)

Nice link

+1:)

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Okay - this is REALLY stretching this topic a bit :) - apologies everyone... ahem... how should I put this...?

Russia loses contact with satellite full of geckos

and how I reached that link... :)

Will an evolved race of super-geckos emerge from the solar system in future?

Will an evolved race of super-geckos emerge from the solar system in future?

Probaly not this time.

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