Insect biotremology—An introduction

Biotremology, officially coined in 2016, has rapidly emerged as a distinct scientific discipline, focusing on the study of substrate-borne mechanical waves in animal communication, particularly among insects. Initially seen as a niche within bioacoustics, biotremology is now recognized for its broad significance, rivalling chemical communication in its prevalence. This special issue highlights the multidisciplinary nature of biotremology, with research spanning insect behaviour, ecology and pest management. Studies showcase advances in understanding vibrational communication across diverse insect taxa, the development of new tools for reliable playback experiments and the growing potential of biotremology in applied pest control. This collection provides a snapshot of a dynamic field in rapid expansion, pushing the boundaries of both fundamental research and practical applications.