But why? A podcast for curious kids is known for serious answers to silly questions sent

in by kids just like you. But did you know that but why is now a book series?

Our first book, Our Lama's Ticklish, answers questions from real kids about farm animals.

This colorfully illustrated book is perfect for kids ages 8 to 10. And our second book,

To Fish Breathe Underwater, explores the underwater world of the ocean. Learn more at

But Why Kids.org slash books.

This is But Why. A podcast for curious kids from Vermont Public. I'm Jane Lenton.

On this show, we take the questions you tell us to find answers to and we...well, we find answers.

Here in the Northern Hemisphere where we're based, it's the middle of summer and let me

tell you, it is noisy. Even out here in the countryside where I live, there are a lot

of creatures making a lot of noise, particularly that one insect you just heard making a racket.

Some of you also live with noisy neighbors that kind of bug you. Get it? And today we're

going to learn more about them. I'm a professor, Karim Vaughed and I basically

study insects, so I'm an entomologist. Karim Vaughed is a bug professor at the University

of Darby in England and he's joining us today to answer some questions you've sent

us about one particular type of insect. Crickets. Professor Vaughed is an expert in

crickets and bush crickets. Did you know you could have a career specializing in

crickets? Well, Karim Vaughed is living proof that you can. Before we get into why they make

so much noise and some other really cool things about crickets, we'd better start at the beginning.

What is a cricket? Crickets are a kind of orthoptura. So the insects are divided to numerous

different kinds called orders. So one major order of insects, for example the beetles,

another major order of the butterflies and moths. But the order to which crickets belong

...