Hawkmoth Use Genitals to Generate Ultrasound that Confuses Bats

Hawkmoths have the ability to jam the echolocation ability of bats. Researchers from University of Florida say that hawkmoths can generate sonic pulses from their genitals that disrupt the bats' ability to locate them.  

Until now, just one kind of moth- the tiger moth- was capable of generating ultrasound, Akito Kawahara, assistant curator of Lepidoptera at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus said. However, the Hawkmoths are a new addition to the cohort.

"This is just the first step toward understanding a really interesting system. Echolocation research has been focused on porpoises, whales and dolphins. We know some insects produce the sounds, but this discovery in an unrelated animal making ultrasound, potentially to jam the echolocation of bats, is exciting," Kawahara said in a news release.

Hawkmoths belong to the order Lepidoptera and have earned the name hawk moth due to their swift, hovering flying pattern. They are slender with bullet shaped bodies and have long, narrow forewings.

There are about 1,400 species of hawkmoths in the world and they play a vital role in pollinating flowers. They possess long proboscis which makes them efficient pollinators. There are certain flowers that only hawkmoths can pollinate.

The tiger moths use vibrating membrane located on the thorax to produce the ultrasound while the hawkmoths use their genitals.

Kawahara said that at least three species of hawkmoths can produce ultrasound waves to confuse bats and avoid being preyed on. The study team conducted the research on the hawkmoths in the forests of Malaysia and lower Amazon.

The  team has planned to study other species of hawkmoths to see if they also have the ability to generate ultrasound.

"We think hawkmoths are a primary food source for bats because none appear to be chemically defended, which is why they have evolved anti-bat ultrasound strategies. Hawkmoths have evolved different ways of avoiding bats - I can't even explain how amazing the system is, it is just fascinating," Kawahara added.

The study is published in the journal Biology Letters.