Signalling via substrate vibration represents one of the most ubiquitous and ancient modes of insect communication. In crickets (Grylloidea) and other taxa of tympanate Ensifera, production and detection of acoustic and vibrational signals are closely linked functionally and evolutionarily. Male stridulation produces both acoustic and vibrational signal components, the joint perception of which improves song recognition and female orientation towards the signaller. In addition to stridulation, vibrational signalling mainly through body tremulation and/or drumming with body parts on the substrate has long been known to be part of crickets' close-range communication, including courtship, mate guarding and aggression. Such signalling is typically exhibited by males, independently or in conjunction with stridulation, and occurs literally in all cricket lineages and species studied. It is further also part of the aggressive behaviour of females, and in a few cricket groups, females respond vibrationally to acoustic and/or vibrational signals from males. The characteristics and function of these signals have remained largely unexplored despite their prevalence. Moreover, the communication potential and also ubiquity of cricket vibrational signals are underappreciated, limiting our understanding of the function and evolution of the cricket signalling systems. By providing a concise review of the existing knowledge of cricket perception of vibrations and vibrational signalling behaviour, we critically comment on these views, discuss the communication value of the emitted signals and give some methodological advice respecting their registration and control. The review aims to increase awareness, understanding and research interest in this ancient and widespread signalling mode in cricket communication.

通过基质振动发出信号是最普遍和最古老的昆虫交流方式之一。在蟋蟀 (Grylloidea) 和其他蟋蟀类群中，声学和振动信号的产生和检测在功能和进化上密切相关。男性的鸣叫会产生声音和振动信号成分，它们的联合感知提高了歌曲识别和女性对信号者的定位。除了鸣叫之外，主要通过身体颤抖和/或身体部位在基板上敲击的振动信号长期以来一直被认为是蟋蟀近距离交流的一部分，包括求爱、守卫和侵略。这种信号通常由雄性表现出来，独立地或与叫声结合，并且确实发生在所有研究的板球谱系和物种中。这也是雌性攻击性行为的一部分，在一些板球组中，雌性会对来自雄性的声音和/或振动信号做出振动反应。尽管它们普遍存在，但这些信号的特征和功能在很大程度上仍未得到探索。此外，板球振动信号的通信潜力和普遍性未被充分认识，限制了我们对板球信号系统功能和进化的理解。通过对板球振动和振动信号行为的现有知识的简要回顾，我们批判性地评论这些观点，讨论发出信号的通信价值，并就其注册和控制提供一些方法论建议。