Echolocation assemblages and their effects on moth auditory systems

I analyzed the auditory characteristics of a variety of tympanate moths from areas representing low and high levels of bat (= echolocation signal) diversity. Moths sampled in two African (high diversity) sites reveal significantly higher sensitivities than those analyzed at an Ontario site (low diversity). These sensitivities are particularly pronounced at both low-frequency (5–25 kHz) and high-frequency (80–110 kHz) ranges. I suggest 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) present there.