I had heard that if a cricket touches raw steel or metal that it can no longer jump. Have tried this theory and it seems to be true. Why?
2006-07-25 11:53:23 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment
What exactly did you do to that cricket? If you mashed it down onto the metal sure it can't jump anymore.
I have a strip of metal on my porch, doesn't seem to bother the crickets at all. I also have a wrought iron yard decoration that has crickets sitting on it. I just checked....when I tapped the ornament they all jumped off.
So it is a old wives tale.
2006-07-25 11:57:29 · answer #1 · answered by Miss Guided 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neat question! I really have no idea here, but, metals do carry an electrical charge. Brass is one that I know of that has no charge at all and is used to neutralize static or the innate charge of metals whether positive or negative. Lead has a negative charge. It's possible that a cricket's nervous system is sensitive enough to be affected by it but whether or not it would have a crippling effect on it would be something to see! Get yerself a cricket and some different metals and find out! Just don't squash the thing.
2006-07-25 12:15:37 · answer #2 · answered by Winter Wolf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nonsense
i rear crickets as food for reptiles - in containers covered by steel mesh. they walk on it and still retain their jumping ability.
the fact is that they cant jump/walk properly when placed on a smooth surface - like some tabletops - their legs would just skid in a funny way. maybe that is how this tale got around??
2006-07-26 01:41:09 · answer #3 · answered by iva 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe the cool metal slows them down,they will jump until you break their legs.
2006-07-25 11:57:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably because the steel is supposed to be part of a hammer and you are supposed to smack em with it.
2006-07-25 11:59:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋