How Do Mosquitoes Echolocate?
WouterUsing sound waves, echolocation is used by many animals. Bats, whales, dolphins, hedgehogs and some shrews use it to navigate and to identify enemies. The method can also help blind people to find their way around.
Bats produce high-pitched, ultrasonic sounds when foraging. These sounds can travel up to 5 meters away and can detect insects. They are sometimes used by bats to hunt and avoid flying into objects.
Several insects are known to hear echolocating bat sounds. In addition, some shrews and nocturnal shrews, such as the tenrec of Madagascar, echolocate by tongue clicks.
Mosquitoes have two feathery antennae on their heads. These are attached to the Johnston’s organs, which are metabolically driven circular structures. These antennae are tuned to different sound levels.
In some cases, these antennae may be able to hear ultrasonic sounds. This is a form of echolocation that some experts say is useful for navigating in dark environments. Nevertheless, most adults are not able to hear ultrasonic sounds.
Bats can also use echoes to determine size, speed, and direction. These echoes bounce off objects and back to the bat. They can also “see” in the dark. The sound waves they produce are about the size of a jet engine. This is because the sound travels as invisible waves through the air.
Other birds, such as hedgehogs, shrews and oilbirds, have been known to echolocate. However, some of these birds use audible clicks to help them find food.
