The defensive function of auditory enhancers in the neotropical moth Antaea lichyi (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

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Abstract
The neotropical moth Antaea lichyi Franclemont (Notodontidae) has pinna-like structures that increase its auditory sensitivity to sounds above 70 kHz. The functional adaptiveness of these structures were tested by examining the response of the moth''s single auditory receptor neuron, with its cups in normal and altered positions, to prerecorded echolation signals of three sympatric, insectivorous bats. The results indicate that these auditory adaptations enhance detection of the short, high frequency calls emitted by certain insectivorous species in the family Phyllostomidae (New World leaf-nosed bats). I suggest that these bats, although not the primary chiropteran predators of moths, exert enough selection pressure to warrant the evolution of auditory adaptations in sympatric moths.