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Dryad

Data from: Evasive maneuvers adopted by mosquitoes reveal plasticity in the echolocation of Myotis riparius (Vespertilionidae)

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Dec 05, 2024 version files 20.93 KB

Abstract

Evasive maneuvers are essential behaviors to escape predator attacks. Several studies describe the advantages of evasive maneuvers when adopted by eared moths, under the risk of attack by bats. However, little is known about this behavior when expressed by dipterans in natural environments. This study describes, for the first time, two distinct behaviors adopted by mosquitoes in flight during attacks by insectivorous bats in riverine environments. Antipredatory behaviors differ greatly among themselves and, consequently, in their success in avoiding predation. In both cases, bats seek to adjust the parameters of their calls to maximize their chances of capturing mosquitoes. The results indicate that mosquitoes are capable of detecting the approach of bats and reacting appropriately, however success in escaping is associated with the type of maneuver and of the microhabitat where the interaction occurs.