What else can Mantids hear?

[sporeworld]

So, I've heard and read from a number of sources that mantids just have the one "ear", that is designed (evolved) to detect the echo location of bats. Do we know if it can detect other things?

I am almost positive they react to the fluttering of wings, before they can see them. Has anyone read anything to support this? Doesn't seem like quite a stretch to detect buzzing with the same tools.

 

[mkayum]

I would just gently blow on them. They'd move their little heads directly to me! I'm sure they probably had a sense for vibrations.

 

[guapoalto049]

I also think the hearing is better than we think. Whether it is auditory or some type of kinesthetic thing, they can absolutely detect bugs that are moving but out of its visual field.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Hopefully they can't hear the terrible singing I often subject them to.

When I loose one I always end up wandering around my room calling their name. Wait, you don't think they run away in the first place because of my singing do you? ;o;

 

[CoolMantid]

Isnt that one ear under there back legs?

 

[sporeworld]

That's what I hear. I'm not that scholarly about the hobby, so I was hoping someone here had stumbled upon something to backup my suspicions.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I know a couple professors are studying them for their hearing and sight, but I really think they should study K. Klaw! lol

 

[Rick]

Most likely they can sense vibrations and movement of air currents. Antennae also are sensory. Not really hearing as we think of it, but insects have various ways of sensing the environment.

 

[Psychobunny]

I have this book, but havent read it yet;

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0801861748/ref=rdr_ext_tmb

There is a chapter on hearing and vision. I will check it out when I get home because now

I am curious.

This is the best book I know of if you want taxonomy of the mantis.

It's very scientific and acidemic, not meant to be a "how to keep as a pet" book.

 

[Psychobunny]

Hopefully they can't hear the terrible singing I often subject them to.

When I loose one I always end up wandering around my room calling their name. Wait, you don't think they run away in the first place because of my singing do you? ;o;

LOL!! I sing and talk to them all the time to!!

I can swear sometimes they understand me, so please dont call the men in the white coats

to come and get me!!

 

[Psychobunny]

I know a couple professors are studying them for their hearing and sight, but I really think they should study K. Klaw! lol

I dont think a whole lot of research has been done alone these lines as far as mantids are concerned.

Science costs money, and it has to come from somewere, someone with a vested intrest.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I send mantis regulary to a few different colleges that do research on them. So they do have grants for this and it has been ongoing for years now. :tt2: lol

 

[Psychobunny]

I send mantis regulary to a few different colleges that do research on them. So they do have grants for this and it has been ongoing for years now. :tt2: lol

Wow! that's good, I did not know there were any scientists out there studying mantids except as it pertains

to crop management, agriculture stuff.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Ck out some of their books, Frederick Prete and David Yager, both big men in the mantis world. Both have their own books.

 

[hibiscusmile]

http://www.amazon.com/The-Praying-Mantids-Frederick-Prete/dp/0801861748

http://psychology.umd.edu/research/QSTN-predator-prey.html

 

[Precarious]

I hear mantids have an ear

not in the front but to the rear

that peers the pointy waves that spear

the hearts of man both far and near

so shed ye not a salty tear

in loneliness, remorse, or fear

the lowly mantis now is here

a bug companion without peer

 

[Krissim Klaw]

I know a couple professors are studying them for their hearing and sight, but I really think they should study K. Klaw! lol

I am being studied and it has been going on for years now. Humans were having no luck at it so the mantises stepped in since they were best equipped to study me in my natural habitat. They are very hopeful their studies will further their knowledge of the human race for when it is time to take over the planet.

LOL!! I sing and talk to them all the time to!!

I can swear sometimes they understand me, so please dont call the men in the white coats

to come and get me!!

I think they can understand plenty good even if it isn't with their one ear. As far as them hunting moths and sensing things, I am with Rick. With all the time I've spent with mantises I have seen virtually no auditory reactions at least nothing along the lines that we would typically call hearing as humans. I think their antennaes are far more vital when it comes to sensing movement that seems out of their eyesight, much like how fish can feel what is around them in the water. Still I like to think one day I could train one to come when called. :stuart:

 

[Termite48]

I was under the impression that they have two "ears" or tympanic memranae. These are supposed to be located on inner portion of the front legs near the femural bone (about midleg) and are analogous to ears. As to what they can detect with their tympanic membrane, that I am not sure. Surely it is for detection of prey and for avoidance of certain predators which might emit a danger sound to the mantis.

 

[MantidLord]

Their "ear" or tympanum is found to be on their abdomens. Confusion arises because not all insects have their ears at the same location. Orthopterans have ears on varying parts of the leg and on different legs. Some insects have ears on their head. Not all mantids have this ear and some mantids respond to different frequencies. Bats as a group have a very broad frequency, even dipping into the Hz range that humans can hear. Therefore it is very possible that if mantids can hear the ranges of bats at this frequency, they may be able to hear humans if we hit that pitch.

I also have noticed mantids respond more to fluttering insects, this has also been found to be the case in some spiders when in an enclosure. Most likely the mantids are picking up wind vibrations on their antennae and on the hairs present on their legs and neck. The fact that they may be using multimodal means of prey recognition hasn't been studied yet so all of that is conjecture.

I typed this on my phone, so I apologize for spelling mistakes.