Does your cubicle mate play "adult contemporary" while you writhe in agony? Well now you can strike back with the classic rock stylings of your favorite insects! Lang Elliot and Will Hershberger have recently completed a practical guide to 76 species of singing insects, including crickets, katydids and cicadas of eastern and central North America. The Songs of Insects includes an audio CD so you can finally put a name to that damn bug song that has been stuck in your head all day.
As part of what I consider a rather clever marketing ploy, Lang and Will offer an embeddable jukebox that is permanently tuned to insect songs. Listen to ours or get your own. Good times, great oldies!
(Thanks to Pat Deering for the tip. Hit "Play All" if you want it to cycle through)
Comments
I tried Play All, and I'm glad I did, as I now learn that the scissor-grinder cicada is the one that made all that noise in my Appalachian youth. Before you die, you should make a point of hearing one of these guys close up. At a few feet, they are painfully shrill and deafeningly loud, while smaller than your thumb.
Posted by: Roy | August 23, 2007 12:19 PM
This is just what American expats need.
It brings tears to the eyes.
Posted by: saline | August 25, 2007 7:22 PM
I think I've been waiting for this album all my life.
Posted by: Brad S | August 28, 2007 11:23 AM
I got the book for my birthday (with CD included) and can endorse it fully. Photos are beautiful!
They also have an additional "ambient insects" sort of album on sale, if you want to hear crickets in the middle of January.
Posted by: bug_girl | August 30, 2007 7:06 AM