Ever wonder why some caterpillar’s make whistling noises?
Neither did we, but that was probably because we never took the time to poke it with a stick like this caterpillar.
Scientists have just discovered that the walnut sphinx caterpillar has the ability to whistle through its sides.
Unlike us, insects do not breathe through a nose, but rather breathing holes located on the sides of the body called spiracles.
This particular caterpillar has 8 pairs of breathing holes along its side and two researchers have identified that the whistling noise (heard above) come from the 8th pair of spiracles.
Like most insects, the whistling acts as a defense mechanism that warns off predators.
To test the effect of the whistling in this particular case, researchers placed the caterpillar in a cage with birds who are known to eat the insect, but when they approached, they were quickly scared off by the whistling.
Pretty cool, huh?
It makes sense to us though. If you get mugged and scream loud enough, chances are the thief will take off running.
In the study, all of the caterpillars remained unharmed when unleashing their howl to the approaching predators.
If only it worked as well for humans.