Crickets & Katydids: Nature’s Nighttime Orchestra

As August evenings grow longer and summer winds down, a familiar soundtrack takes over the night. Step outside and you’ll hear the steady chirps of crickets and the raspy calls of katydids — tiny musicians filling the dark with their songs.

Why They Sing

These nighttime sounds aren’t random — they’re love songs. Male crickets and katydids “sing” by rubbing their wings together, hoping to attract a mate. The result is one of nature’s most recognizable soundtracks, a chorus that reaches its peak in late summer.

A Natural Thermometer

Here’s a fun fact: you can estimate the temperature outside just by listening to crickets! Count the number of chirps in 15 seconds, then add 40 — that’s the approximate temperature in Fahrenheit.

Good Luck & Folklore

Across cultures, crickets have long been considered good luck. In parts of Asia and Europe, people once kept them in little cages so they could hear their songs indoors, believing their music brought peace and prosperity. Katydids, with their leaf-like wings, were often seen as symbols of change — a reminder of the shifting seasons.

Helping the Orchestra Play On

Like many insects, crickets and katydids are affected by pesticides and habitat loss. To keep their songs alive for future summers:

🌿 Plant native grasses and flowers to give them shelter.

💡 Turn off outdoor lights when you can — light pollution disrupts their activity.

🚫 Reduce chemical use in lawns and gardens.

So the next time you’re sitting on the porch or cracking open a window at night, pause and listen. That rhythmic chorus of chirps and trills is summer’s farewell symphony — a reminder that fall is just around the corner.

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