Moths that Jam a Bat's Sonar

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07/17/2009

Jul. 17, 2009

Moths that Jam a Bat's Sonar

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New research finds that one species of moth is capable of actively jamming the sonar used by moth-hunting bats. This biological equivalent of the 'electronic countermeasures' used by the military to jam radar and sonar signals is described in the journal Science. In the study, researchers used ultrasonic recording and high-speed infrared video to examine the relationship of bats and a tiger moth known as Bertholdia trigona. They found that sudden bursts of ultrasound emitted by the tiger moth appears to actually jam the bat's sonar, not just startle the bat or warn of a bad-tasting moth. We'll find out more.

Produced by Flora Lichtman, Correspondent and Managing Editor, Video

Guests

Aaron Corcoran
Ph.D. student,
Biology Department

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

Jul. 17, 2009