sense of hearing

[Roger C. KENDRICK]

Andrea Hoffmann wrote:
> 
> hi folks,
> 
> i've read in one of my books that certain families of butterflies have a
> sense of hearing and they can even pick up ultrasound.
> 
> i'd now like to know which families have this sense of hearing? and is
> there any literature that deals with the butterflies' senses? or any other
> pointers on this topic?
> 
> i've got quite a number of books here but none of them elaborates on that
> topic.

Hi Andrea,

Get hold of a copy of "The Lepidoptera: form, function and diversity" by
M.J.Scoble (1992), published by the Natural History Museum, London. This
is a VERY useful textbook for anyone interested in the structure of
Lepidopteran bodies.
There is a whole section on tympanal structures ("ears"). I don't know
which butterfly families you're refering to, but I do know that many
moths also hear - Noctuidae, Arctiidae, Geometridae and Pyralidae for
starters (plus a few more).

Hope this helps,

Roger.
________________________________________________
Roger C. KENDRICK   B.Sc.(Hons.)
PhD student & Demonstrator, Dept of Ecology & Biodiversity
The University of Hong Kong
mailto:kendrick at hkusua.hku.hk
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