Abstract Hygrobiidae, or squeak beetles, originated in the Triassic-Jurassic and exhibit a relictual distribution in the Palaearctic, Oriental and Australasian regions. Hygrobiids are well known for their sound-producing abilities, although studies of their bioacoustics remain limited. Here we describe sound producing organs and bioacoustics of the Palaearctic Hygrobia hermanni (Fabricius, 1775). Plectra and pars stridens were examined in both sexes, and sound characteristics analysed. Despite small differences between male and female last abdominal ventrites, plectra were identical. Pars stridens, however, differed subtly, tooth ridges being wider in females. Calls of both sexes were harmonic, with peak frequency at 6.1 kHz, and secondary peak at 10.9 kHz; males exhibiting longer inter-chirp intervals. Calls changed with time in the laboratory, this possibly condition-related effect being more apparent in males. The differences found between sexes suggest that sound production in squeak beetles may function in intraspecific communication, in addition to being an antipredator device.

中文翻译：

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吱吱虫的叫声：重新审视 Hygrobia hermanni (Fabricius, 1775) 的生物声学（鞘翅目：Hygrobiidae）

摘要 Hygrobiidae 或squeak beetles 起源于三叠纪-侏罗纪，在古北界、东方和澳大拉西亚地区有遗存分布。Hygrobiids 以其发声能力而闻名，尽管对其生物声学的研究仍然有限。在这里，我们描述了古北区 Hermanni 的发声器官和生物声学（Fabricius，1775）。对两种性别的 Plectra 和 pars stridens 进行了检查，并分析了声音特征。尽管雄性和雌性最后的腹腔略有不同，但 plectra 是相同的。然而，Pars stridens 略有不同，雌性的牙脊更宽。两性的叫声是和声的，峰值频率为 6.1 kHz，次峰值为 10.9 kHz；雄性表现出更长的啁啾间隔。实验室里的电话随时间变化，这种可能与条件相关的影响在男性中更为明显。在两性之间发现的差异表明，吱吱虫的声音产生可能在种内交流中起作用，除了作为一种防掠食者装置。