Moths use ultrasound to defend against bats
Using artificial intelligence, researchers have discovered what may be the largest animal mimicry complex on Earth, changing the way we see, or rather hear, the night sky. Credit: Chandan Singh, CC BY 2.0 While a clear night sky may seem calm and peaceful to us, empty of everything but stars, this nocturnal world is filled with a cacophony of high-pitched sounds beyond our ability to hear. Bats penetrate shadows with ultrasonic pulses that allow them to create an auditory map of their surroundings, which is bad news for moths, one of their favorite foods. However, not all moths are defenseless prey. Some emit their own ultrasonic signals that startle the bats to stop the pursuit. Many moths that contain bitter venom avoid capture altogether by producing a different ultrasound that alerts the bat to its foul taste. Others hide themselves in a static sonar-jamming shroud that makes them difficult to locate with bat echolocation. Altho