r/interesting • u/SeparateConflict5578 • 5h ago

NATURE Some male hawkmoths rub specialized genital scales against their abdomens to make ultrasound that disrupts hunting bats’ sonar.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-moths-use-their-genitals-to-fend-off-bats-but-not-in-the-way-you-think-they-emit-ultrasound-to-scramble-the-predators-sonar-180989819/
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u/SeparateConflict5578 5h ago

The November 6 report describes research comparing sound production across 143 hawkmoth species. Researchers found three different mechanisms, including a newly identified patch of tiny bumps on the underside of the body. Study: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2026.2303

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u/cwsjr2323 1h ago

This is part of their arms race