Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! HTDE: Crickets and Clowns
Mar 18, 2026
Julie Proctor, keeper of the Clown Egg Register, explains how clowns and drag performers memorialize signature makeup. Marlene Zuk, biologist and author, breaks down the cricket-chirp temperature trick and its limits. Short, curious dives into quirky traditions and natural temperature measuring.
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Cricket Chirps Predict Temperature
- You can estimate air temperature by counting tree cricket chirps because crickets are exothermic and chirp faster when warmer.
- Dolbear's rule: count chirps in 15 seconds and add 40 to approximate degrees Fahrenheit, but it only fits a narrow temperature range and one species.
Dolbear Only Works For Tree Crickets
- Dolbear's formula applies specifically to tree crickets and fails for field (ground) crickets whose rates vary.
- Marlene Zuk warns it's a limited life hack and not a reliable substitute for a thermometer in general use.
Tree Cricket Description And Contrast
- Tree crickets live in shrubs and tall plants, are green with lacy wings, and are visually distinct from ground field crickets.
- Marlene invites listeners to Google tree cricket images and praises their beauty versus field crickets she studied.
