Ultrasonic Illusions: How Tiger Beetles Use Mimicry to Outsmart Bats

Tiger beetles mimic the ultrasonic signals of toxic moths to evade bat predation, a survival strategy exclusive to their nocturnal varieties.

As the primary predators of nocturnal insects, bats exert selective pressure that leads to the evolution of specialized adaptations in their prey. One such adaptation is the development of an early warning system of sorts: ears finely attuned to the high-frequency echolocation signals bats use to hunt. Researchers have identified at least six orders of insects—including moths, beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers—that have developed the ability to detect ultrasound.