The high-pitched whine of a mosquito might drive you crazy, but to these tiny creatures, it’s a symphony.
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(Image: LiveScience) |
Scientists have long known that male mosquitoes pay attention to the buzzing sound of female mosquitoes to find suitable mates. However, a recent study found that female mosquitoes, despite having relatively simple antennae, are actually the best listeners in the insect world.
The research also reveals how mosquitoes initiate the mating process.
When two mosquitoes get close to each other—usually while flying at about one mile per hour—they instantly change the pitch of their buzzing (produced by wings flapping up to 600 times per second).
If the two pitches match, they know the other is an ideal mate. Conversely, if the pitch varies too abruptly, they immediately realize they are pursuing an undesirable same-sex relationship.
The researchers also noted that different species of mosquitoes (there are about 3,000 species worldwide) use distinct wingbeat frequencies to identify mating partners.
The study was conducted by Gabriella Gibson from the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich (UK) and Ian Russell from the University of Sussex, and published in the journal Current Biology.
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