Flight and thermoregulation in moths were shaped by predation from bats

摘要: Most larger nocturnal moths (macrolepidoptera) are equipped with ultrasonic tympanic organs (ears), which give them a considerable survival advantage in encounters echolocating bats. However, 4.2% of the Scandinavian species lack such organs, and presumably deaf. Our results show that earless have higher wing loadings than tympanate forms. They also fly body temperatures. thus adapted for fast erratic flight, may represent an alternative evolutionary pathway to efficient bat defence, but one is energetically more demanding. We suggest were key innovations released' their bearers from energetic constraints imposed by high flight temperature, necessary avoid bats, probably set stage subsequent adaptive radiation slow flying