Now that the typhoon's passed, the insects are getting on with their imperatives…

Now that the typhoon’s passed, the insects are getting on with their imperatives. Let’s discuss crickets (of the family tettigoniidae, or “kirigirisu” 「キリギリス」, a rather cute name), known in Japanese as “kourogi” ( コオロギ) - but it’s one of those weird words that have multiple kanji（蟋蟀、蛬、蛩、蛼）- memorize any to amaze your Japanese friends, who probably know none.

For cricket guys, this season means continually shouting “I’m here!” in a voice they hope gals will find more attractive than that of that schmuck beyond the shrub. This all makes for a delightful symphony of lust.

Males may create noise as the bottom of their wing is covered with ridges, and the upper surface acts like a scraper. When crickets rub the upper and lower parts of their wings together, they create a chirping sound called “stridulating." They’re not the most attractive of beasts, but they do produce a wonderful autumn symphony. Below is a chart of stridulating insects; each creates a different sound. Click for a better view - or, just sleep with your window open and try to count them. - William