Life Beneath the Poplar. This track was recorded by Phil Mill in the Owl Mountains, Poland in the European summer of 2025. An insect (unknown) is stridulating beneath the roots of a Poplar tree. The probe mic was embedded directly touching the trunk and the soil, the insects were living around the tree, and it was audible on different sides. It seemed like an important habitat for these creatures. The crickets in background are just ambience also picked up by the contact mic.Looking up the trunk of a Populus nigra (Black Poplar) beside a road in Poland. Image: Phil Mill
Black poplar is widespread in Poland, indeed, across Europe and Asia. The bark varies depending on the species, but the name of the Poplar usually also describes the colour. It seems to be a great host for insect life, especially moths and caterpillars. They can grow up to 100ft and the tree is usually fast growing.
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