microrobert
07-13-2013, 12:45 PM
Moths May Confuse Bats By Emitting Loud Ultrasound From Genitals As Defense Mechanism
Talk about a multi-purpose tool. Several species of tropical moth can rasp their genitals against their abdomens to beam loud ultrasound signals at approaching bats, possibly throwing the hunters off course.
Bats and moths have been engaged in a natural arms race for nearly 65 million years, each evolving strategies to outwit the other.
Scientists have long known that members of the tiger moth family blast bats with ultrasound signals resembling the echolocation calls bats make as they search for, or close in on, prey. But tiger moths were assumed to be the only moth group able to imitate the bats’ signals.
Moths May Confuse Bats By Emitting Loud Ultrasound From Genitals As Defense Mechanism (VIDEO) (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/moths-bats-ultrasound-genitals-defense_n_3561227.html?utm_hp_ref=green&ir=Green)
Talk about a multi-purpose tool. Several species of tropical moth can rasp their genitals against their abdomens to beam loud ultrasound signals at approaching bats, possibly throwing the hunters off course.
Bats and moths have been engaged in a natural arms race for nearly 65 million years, each evolving strategies to outwit the other.
Scientists have long known that members of the tiger moth family blast bats with ultrasound signals resembling the echolocation calls bats make as they search for, or close in on, prey. But tiger moths were assumed to be the only moth group able to imitate the bats’ signals.
Moths May Confuse Bats By Emitting Loud Ultrasound From Genitals As Defense Mechanism (VIDEO) (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/moths-bats-ultrasound-genitals-defense_n_3561227.html?utm_hp_ref=green&ir=Green)