Scott Mansfield

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Some moths do make ultrasonic courtship calls. Males will follow a female’s pheromone trail, land next to her, and vibrate their wings to produce a volley of ultrasound. These calls are very quiet, almost like whispers. Like other ultrasonic communicators, these moths are probably making use of ultrasound’s limited range so that they’ll be heard by a prospective mate sitting nearby, but not by a hungry bat flying overhead. But unlike most songs, ultrasonic or otherwise, these calls aren’t meant to be attractive. They’re meant to sound dangerous. They mimic the calls of bats, prompting the ...more
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
by Ed Yong
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