Convergent evolution might be the rule, not the exception. Historically, the independent origin of adaptations under similar selection was thought to be enhanced by barriers to gene flow – for example isolated lake systems in sticklebacks – but our work shows this need not be the case. Hawaiian crickets have evolved numerous male-silencing adaptations under selection from eavesdropping parasitoids even in the face of strong gene flow. How? We are testing two main ideas. One is that some traits, especially loss-of-function adaptations, represent enormous mutational targets. The other is that genomic hotspots of adaptation act as engines consistently generating variants that selection then ‘sees’. Current efforts focus on the doublesex gene in field crickets, as it is strongly implicated in the recurrent – but independent – origin of mutations that silence male wings by feminising them.