Function of the tensor muscle in the cicada Tibicen linnei

ABSTRACT The calling song and the disturbance squawk of the cicada Tibicen linnei (Insecta: Homoptera) are described in terms of their physical parameters. The calling song is composed of quiet parts, which are very similar to the disturbance squawk, and loud parts, which are amplitude-and rate-modulated. The role of the tensor muscle acting on the tymbal frame in modulating the sound pulse amplitude was investigated. We demonstrate by tensor nerve recordings, by mechanical mimicking of the tensor muscle action and by electrical stimulation of the tensor nerve, that the contraction of the tensor muscle is responsible for (a) initiating sound production and (b) modulating the sound pulse amplitude. These results allow us to construct a model which suggests that the tensor shifts the tymbal into a mechanical working range that enables sound production and modulation of the sound pulse amplitude.