Caterpillars respond defensively to electric fields similar to those emitted by their natural predators, scientists at the University of Bristol have found.
Caterpillars respond defensively to electric fields similar to those emitted by their natural predators, scientists at the University of Bristol have found.
In the study, published today in the journal PNAS, experts showed that caterpillar hairs move in response to electric fields and are most sensitive to the frequencies that correspond to the wingbeats frequencies of other insects, indicating that their hairs could be tuned to pick up the electrical cues of their predators.
These findings are the first example of static electricity being used as a sensory cue in a predator-prey interaction.
Lead author Dr Sam England explained: “We knew that many animals naturally accumulate static electricity on their bodies as they move around their environment, and that static electricity can push and pull on other charged objects.
Read more at University of Bristol
Photo Credit: Mihcis via Wikimedia Commons
