Moths Jam Bat Sonar

[n2doc]

By Charles Q. Choi, Special to LiveScience

Tiger moths can thwart attacks from bats by effectively jamming the bats' sonar, doing so by emitting sudden bursts of ultrasound, scientists now find.

Past research had revealed that many night-flying moths have evolved the ability to hear bat sonar. A number were even seen responding with clicks of ultrasound.

Other studies revealed that moth ultrasound could startle bats off. Research also showed the outbursts could warn bats that such moths had a nasty taste, just as flashy colors on some animals can serve to ward off potential predators. Still, there was the enticing possibility that some moths used ultrasound to actually foil bat sonar.

To look for a case of sonar jamming, investigators employed ultrasonic recordings and high-speed infrared video to analyze how big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) interacted with one particular species of ultrasound-emitting tiger moth (Bertholdia trigona) over the course of nine nights in enclosed rooms.

more:
http://www.livescience.com/animals/090716-moth-jammer.html

[BlooInBloo]

1. Coooool.

[Ian David]

2. Excellent! Put these sounds on wind turbines to keep bats from flying into them! n/t

[timeforpeace]

3. Scarce research dollars wisely spent.