BEHAVIORAL-ANALYSES OF AUDITORY-SENSITIVITY IN CYCNIA-TENERA HUBNER (LEPIDOPTERA-ARCTIIDAE)

The auditory characteristics of the arctiid moth C. tenera were examined using 2 behavioral criteria, sound production and flight cessation. The majority of the individuals tested indicated a maximum sensitivity to frequencies between 30 and 50 kHz, although there is a substantial degree of interindividual variation. Spectral analyses of the echolocation/hunting cries of 2 spp. of sympatric, insectivorous bats, Eptesicus fuscus and Myotis lucifugus reveal maximally intense spectral peaks at 29.3 and 41.9 kHz, respectively. The audiograms offer a behavioral correlation to neural studies done with other species of moths and illustrate the existence of behaviorally expressed intensity discrimination in these insects. The variation evident between individuals may represent the differential response characteristics reported for free-flying tympanate moths in field conditions.