The hummingbird hawk moth is a fascinating creature that has captivated the attention of many observers. It looks like a cross between a butterfly and a bird, and it can hover in mid-air like a helicopter.
But what makes this insect even more remarkable is how it uses its long, curled proboscis to extract nectar from flowers with incredible precision and speed.
How the Moth Finds the Nectar
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Scientists from the University of Konstanz have recently conducted a study to investigate the sensory information that the hummingbird hawk moth relies on to control its proboscis.
They discovered that the moth uses its sense of sight to guide its proboscis to the target, much like humans use their eyes to reach for objects with their hands.
This complex form of appendage control was previously known mainly from animals with larger brains, such as monkeys or birds.
The hummingbird hawk moth has a proboscis that is as long as its entire body. It uses this flexible tube to suck nectar from flowers by inserting it through a tiny opening into the floral nectaries.
To do this, the moth has to find the right spot on the flower and adjust its proboscis accordingly.
The researchers conducted sophisticated behavioral experiments in which they recorded the moths with high-speed cameras as they approached artificial flowers.
They found that the moths use visible patterns on the flowers, which they scan with their proboscis, to get to the sugary liquid faster. The moths can detect the contrast between the flower and the background, and use this information to orient themselves.
The movement analysis revealed that the moths can only move their proboscis forwards and backwards by about one and a half centimeters, and can hardly move it sideways at all.
To control the rough positioning of the proboscis in the flower, the moths move their entire bodies in flight, while the smaller movements of the proboscis itself are used to precisely target the flower pattern.
The researchers also found that the moths use their sense of sight to monitor and correct the movement of their proboscis. They manipulated the visual feedback by moving the flower slightly while the moth was feeding, and observed how the moth reacted.
Moreover, they found that the moths adjusted their proboscis position in response to the flower movement, indicating that they use visual feedback to control their proboscis.
The researchers concluded that the hummingbird hawk moth uses a combination of sensory information to control its proboscis, similar to how humans use their vision to guide their hand movements.
This finding suggests that this form of appendage control is not limited to animals with large brains, but can also be achieved by insects with relatively simple nervous systems.
The study also has implications for the field of robotics, as it provides insights into how to design and control flexible appendages for complex tasks.
The hummingbird hawk moth is a master of sensory control, and a source of inspiration for scientists and engineers alike.
