Page 81 - Engineering in Nature

Harun Yahya

The study established that a special system in the moth's ear had
infiltrated the bat's hunting system. From the ear, perceptions regard-
ing the bat are sent to the central nervous system by means of only
two fibers. This system, apparently so simple, is perfectly created to

let the moth perceive ultrasonic waves.

• Capturing the Enemy's Battle Plan
As insectivorous bats hunt in the dark, they give off a series of high
frequency cries. They locate prey by establishing the direction and dis-
tance of the source of these cries' echoes. This acoustical radar is so sen-

sitive that it even permits bats to catch insects as tiny as mosquitoes.
But some species of moth – members of the Noctuidae, Geometridae
and Arctiidae families – possess ears capable of hearing the ultrasonic
cries emitted by bats, so that they can escape being hunted down.
These ears, located under the moths' wings, serve as an early
warning system.
When they sense a bat emitting high-frequency sounds, moths
make sharp dives or intricate loops, very different from their normal
flight patterns. Sometimes they fly in the opposite direction to the ap-
proaching bat. Asher E. Treat of New York City University observed
that moths flying in a different direction to a bat's approach have a
better chance of survival than others. 25
The moth's ear can detect ultrasonic bat cries, which we humans
cannot, from up to 3,200 meters (10500 feet) away. In addition, they
can also distinguish frequencies from 10 to 100 kilocycles—a range
that includes bat cries. Their greatest ability, to identify short bursts of
sound amidst periods of silence and the differences in their sound
range, give moths a major advantage in their battle for survival.

Adnan Oktar
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