Tiny spies: mosquito antennae are sensitive sensors for eavesdropping on frog calls

• DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245359
• Publication Date: 2023-11-09T10:40:27Z
• Authors: Hoover Pantoja-Sá...; Brian C. Leavell; Bianca Rendon; W. A. Priyanka P....; Richa Singh; Jian Zhou; Gil Menda; Ronald R. Hoy; Ronald N. Miles; Neil D. Sanscrainte; Ximena E. Bernal
• Keywords: Biting; Eavesdropping; Tree frog

Most mosquito and midge species use hearing during acoustic mating behaviors. For frog-biting species, however, plays an important role beyond as females rely on anuran calls to obtain blood meals. Despite the extensive work examining in that sound contexts, our understanding of how mosquitoes hear frog is limited. Here, we directly investigated mechanisms underlying detection by a specialized eavesdropping signals: Uranotaenia lowii. Behavioral, biomechanical neurophysiological analyses revealed antenna this can detect relying neural mechanical responses comparable those non-frog-biting species. Our findings show Ur. lowii, contrary most males do not for mating, but locate their host. We also response antennae resembles mating. Finally, discuss data considering may have evolved ability tap into communication system frogs.