Buzz off, lover boy.
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
Over the past THIRTY years, Hawaiian crickets have dramatically changed their mating calls. What gives?
Unwanted attention, says Aaron Wikle and team from the University of Denver.
Enter NON-native Hawaiian parasitic flies. They embed their larvae into a host, ultimately growing inside and killing them!
The researchers implanted recording devices into the parasitic flies’ cells.
And? Their cells responded to cricket songs more strongly than to mainland American flies!
Turns out the Hawaiian crickets don’t change their mating calls to AVOID predators. More like, they’re keeping a romantic moment PRIVATE!
But! The parasitic flies just become better listeners!
Hmm… Do these… sensitive flies have a… human brother? Who looks like Jeff Goldblum?
Reference: Wikle, A. W., Broder, E. D., Gallagher, J. H., Dominguez, J., Carlson, M., Vu, Q., Tinghitella, R. M., & Lee, N. (2025). Neural and behavioral evolution in an eavesdropper with a rapidly evolving host. Current Biology, 35(5), 1074-1084.e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.019