News in Brief Animals

This scratchy hiss is the closest thing yet to caterpillar vocalization

Pulling air into the gut helps sphinx hawk moth larvae make their own teakettle howl

teakettle caterpillar

HEAR ME ROAR   Annoy this Nessus sphinx hawk moth caterpillar and it will create a hissing noise, perhaps similar to the way teakettles whistle.

J. Yack

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Tap — gently — the plump rear of a young Nessus sphinx hawk moth, and you may hear the closest sound yet discovered to a caterpillar voice.