Caterpillar twitches in an ultraquiet chamber are helping biologists understand how these insects hear without ears

Scientists give caterpillars haircuts and put them in a room isolated from sound to figure out how they’re able to hear without ears.

By: Aishwarya Sriram, Binghamton University, State University of New York; Carol Miles, Binghamton University, State University of New York; Ronald Miles, Binghamton University, State University of New York, and Sara Aghazadeh, Binghamton University, State University of New York, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 2, 2026

Words: 1,149

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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By Aishwarya Sriram, Binghamton University, State University of New York; Carol Miles, Binghamton University, State University of New York; Ronald Miles, Binghamton University, State University of New York, and Sara Aghazadeh, Binghamton University, State University of New York

In a quiet summer garden, a caterpillar perches on a branch, munching serenely on leaves. A moment later it freezes. It senses danger – and just in time. From behind, a wasp approaches, sizing up its prey.

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