The Tiny Bug With Ears on Its Knees

Have you ever wondered how crickets make such a loud sound? They make the sound by rubbing their wings together, and some can chirp at over 100 decibels. That’s as loud as a chainsaw.

Another interesting fact is that their ears are actually on their front legs, just below the knee joint. These built-in “knee-phones” help crickets pick up on chirps from potential mates, or stay alert for hungry frogs sneaking up nearby.

And guess what? The warmer it is, the faster they chirp. So much so, you can actually estimate the temperature outside by counting cricket chirps! (It’s a real thing—just count the chirps for 15 seconds and add 37.)