Predator-prey interactions between gleaning bats and katydids

Abstract

Bats are voracious predators of insects, and many insects have ears sensitive to the high-frequency echolocation calls of bats. Eared insects show a variety of defences when they detect bat echolocation calls. Professor Brock Fenton was an early contributor to the field of bat-insect interactions, inspiring many students to pursue investigations that have advanced our understanding of the relationship between predators and prey. Reflecting on the integrative nature of Dr. Fenton’s research, this review highlights research on the evolutionary arms race between gleaning insectivorous bats and katydid prey. Studies on this system have enhanced the field of sensory ecology by illuminating how animal auditory systems can encode and distinguish between signals that overlap in their acoustic properties but have very different consequences for the listener (sex or death). These studies also inform us about the ecological and evolutionary selection pressures on signalers and receivers that can shape mate attraction and predator avoidance behaviour. In particular, many Neotropical katydids rely on preventative instead of reactive defences against gleaning bats, likely due to the regular presence of echolocation calls from non-gleaning bats that reduce the information content of predator cues. We conclude with suggestions for future research on these fascinating animals.