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How to use SINA

SINA is designed to be used without requiring the user to consult detailed directions. When these instructions were first written, SINA was not as user friendly as it is now. The text below is lightly edited and left in place—in case new users wish to benefit from it.

To determine if an insect is a cricket, katydid, or cicada

Go to How to recognize crickets and katydids.

To identify an unknown cricket or katydid

Go to the division dealing with Crickets or Katydids and click on the Keys button. When you must decide among the species within a genus, seek advice or help on the genus page. Then browse the species pages and accept or reject the choices on the basis of appearance, song, morphological features, and geographical, seasonal, and ecological distribution.

To learn about a species of cricket or katydid for which you know the name

Go to the division dealing with Crickets or Katydids and click on the List of Species button. In the checklist, find the species (by scientific or common name) and click on the link.

To learn about a genus or subfamily for which you know the name

Go to the appropriate division (Crickets or Katydids) and click on the List of Species button. Within the checklist, find the genus or subfamily (by scientific or common name) and click on the link.

To go to a key to the genera of a subfamily you know

Go to the subfamily page (from the key to subfamilies or from the List of Species). The first section of the subfamily page will have a link to the key to genera.

Recent changes in the higher classifications of crickets and katydids have reduced the usefulness of some of SINA's morphological keys. TJW decided that for most of SINA's users, such keys were less helpful than colored photographs of live specimens and playable calling songs of species that have been audio recorded. [Thus he has concentrated on those features of SINA.]



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