| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication: | 1982 |
| Authors: | J. H. Fullard |
| Journal: | Can. J. Zool. |
| Volume: | 60 |
| Pagination: | 2572-2576 |
| Date Published: | 1982 |
| Keywords: | Africa, allotonic frequency hypothesis, auditory sensitivity, Canada, Chiroptera, Côte d’Ivoire, echolocation, hearing, Insecta, Ivory Coast, Lepidoptera, North America, predation pressure, predator avoidance, sensory ecology, sound, Zimbabwe |
| Abstract: | The auditory characteristics were analysed of a variety of tympanate Lepidoptera from areas representing low and high levels of bat (=echolocation signal) diversity. Moths sampled in sites in Zimbabwe and Ivory Coast (high diversity) revealed significantly higher sensitivities than those from Ontario (low diversity). These sensitivities were particularly pronounced at both low frequency (5-25 kHz) and high frequency (80-110 kHz). It is suggested that these auditory differences are due to the corresponding increased sensory requirements of tropical moths having to cope with a greater density and diversity of bats (predation pressure) there. |