Responses of nonflying moths to ultrasound: the threat of gleaning bats

Stationary and walking tympanate moths (Arctiidae, Geometridae, Noctuidae, and Notodontidae) exhibited discrete behavioural responses to electronically simulated bat echolocation calls. The presence of a stationary response in a given species was strongly correlated with the presence of a walking response in the same species. Some inter- and intra-specific variability in the presence of this behaviour was observed and the evolutionary implications of this variability are discussed. Such behavioural responses by nonvolant moths to ultrasound may protect them from predation by gleaning bats.