BBC:
The greater wax moth has been shown in a recent study to be
able to detect some sounds with frequencies up to 300 kHz. In
comparison, humans top out at 20 kHz and dolphins, which can
communicate in ultrasound, at 160 kHz. The study was led by
James Windmill of Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland,
who says the moths may have evolved the capability as a
defensive response to predatory bats, which employ ultrasound
to communicate. Ultrasound waves degrade quickly when traveling
through air, so a better understanding of how moths utilize the
frequencies might help Windmill 's team and other scientists in
the development of microacoustic devices such as miniature
microphones.
