Monstrous defense mechanism of moths

In order to deal with an ancient enemy, moths have developed an incredible defense mechanism: using genital organs to release ultrasound waves.

In the dark caves and dense forests of the world, a persistent evolutionary battle and dramatic stretches of 65 million years are taking place between bats and moths. Apparently moths are weak, but scientists have learned that the species has found ingenious measures to counteract the enemy's powerful weapons.

The latest discovery is a large moth, which is capable of interfering with positioning signals that bats use in long-term chases in the dark. According to the journal Nature, Jesse Barber of Boise State University (USA) and Akito Kawahara of the University of Florida observed and identified the impressive 'tail-cutting' method that large moths often use. .When chased by bats, they rub the genitals into the abdomen to create ultrasonic waves, which interfere with the ability of the enemy to determine the direction. To draw this conclusion, the expert team turned on the bat signal and headed to the objects of many moths. Among them, 3 moth species, including Cechenena lineosa, Theretra boisduvalii and Theretra nessus , started emitting ultrasonic waves.

Large moths have the ability to destroy bat's wave locator - (Photo: Boise State University)

Previously, people knew that bats used positioning signals to move to find food, and in the study, experts discovered ultrasound signals of large moths imitating the sound that bats play. out. Scientists believe that the ultrasound signal of this insect can serve as a warning that they are also available 'weapons' , such as the legs are full of thorns, or the bat is disturbed, no realize where the positioning wave comes from a fellow you support, or from prey. In the case of bats, males produce locating waves by rubbing the hardening scales on the genitals (which are used to cling to females during sex). Meanwhile, female bats also use the scab at the abdomen to rub the abdomen.

Earlier, tiger butterflies were the only species recorded that could interfere with bats. Now, researchers have discovered that both large moths and tiger butterflies possess ears that detect bat positioning waves, and have the ability to react by returning similar waveforms. The difference here is the ears of big moths on the face, and the tiger's ears at the chest. And tiger butterflies also give ultrasound signals by using membranes in the chest area.

Mr. Kawahara said that for a long time, experts only focused on studying active animals during the day, but they did not know that there were many interesting things happening in the night, because people could not hear and could not see .'This system has never been discovered , ' Kawahara said excitedly, according to a report

Biology Letters.'This is only the first step in understanding a very interesting system'. 'The study of the echolocation mechanism often focuses on species such as dolphins and whales. We know that some insects also have the ability to produce sound, but this finding in an unknown creature can produce ultrasound waves, but enough to break down the bat's wave locator, actually Kawahara insisted.