Noctuid Moth Escape Method Draft

The Noctuid Moth or Owlet Moth, living in arctic and antarctic regions, exhibits a seemingly complex but quite simple method of escape from predators. Noctuid Moths are hunted mostly by insectivorous bats. These bats hunt using echolocation, so in their evolution, the moths have had to develop a means of countering this. Their answer to echolocation is a simple neural reflex circuit. The moths use ears located on their thorax to listen for the screeches of bats. Their ears contain two receptors, A1 receptor and A2 receptor, sensing location and proximity respectively. These receptors are connected to a group of interneurons in the thorax of the moth called the thoracic ganglion. This thoracic ganglion is connected to wing muscles on the opposite side of the moth. Once the sensory receptors in the ear receive enough stimulation from the screeches of the bats, the moth will automatically react, dodging and diving. It seems as though the moth is processing complex thought in avoiding the bat, but is actually just undergoing a series of reflexes as the chase goes on.