Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


The blue morpho butterfly shows off its brightly colored wings when in flight. But at rest, with closed wings, the butterfly reveals a dull brown color that helps the animal blend in with its surroundings. Credit: Kathleen Lucas.


The simple ear of the blue morpho butterfly is tiny (shown here close-up) and is located at the base of the animal's wings. Credit: Kathleen Lucas.


The simple ear structure, which looks like a tiny piece of stretched material (see translucent spot where butterfly wing meets the body), may be able to differentiate between different frequency sounds, according to new research. Credit: Kathleen Lucas.

1 posted on 10/28/2009 4:35:09 AM PDT by Daffynition
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies ]


To: Daffynition

2 posted on 10/28/2009 6:08:29 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Daffynition
Texas A&M did a study years ago on grasshoppers and concluded that they had ears in their legs.

As a baseline starting point, each test bug was subjected to a horn blast and noted that all would jump.

As the research progressed, the legs of each grasshopper were removed one at a time and the test bug again subjected to a horn blast, noting that the test bugs would jump at the sound.

After the last leg of each test bug was removed and again subjected to the horn blast, the test bugs did not move and remained motionless. The testing continued for several more months to verify the results.

It was then determined that if you remove all the legs of a grasshopper, they go deaf.

6 posted on 10/28/2009 6:42:57 AM PDT by Deaf Smith
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Daffynition; Pharmboy
Scientists thought butterflies were deaf until 1912 when the first butterfly ears were identified.
Imagine what the butterflies must think of the scientists. :')
9 posted on 10/28/2009 8:05:16 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson