News Animals

Fruit flies hear by spinning their noses

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

A kind of ear new to science, a swiveling structure that picks up odors as well as sounds, enables fruit flies to sense sounds.

Between a fruit fly’s faceted eyes lie two antennae, each an oval base sprouting a feathery stem. The bigger part of the base contains odor receptors but works as part of a hearing device, as well.