Animal Communication series

[K.J.Caley]

Chris Raper wrote:


> Other insect groups use sound (as in the grasshoppers & crickets) but
> I can't think of many examples in the world of lepidoptera though. I
> know the Central/South American Hamadryas spp. ('Crackers') make
> clicking sounds in flight but I am not sure if this is comminication
> between butterflies or to scare off predators.

Don't forget the squeaks made by hawkmoth pupae when 'handled' (touched,
prodded, etc.)- presumably this, in conjunction with the wriggling of
their abdominal segments - is an attempt to scare off a would-be
predator from something that looked harmless initially. (Madagascar
squeaking cockroaches also do this...but not with me, which is a bit ofa
pain when you are trying to demonstrate anti-predator responses!!)

Kevin

 
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