Scientists studying the hearing systems of insects have said their research could lead to new microphones which can capture and analyse faint sounds. A team from the University of Bristol has been looking at the workings of the "ears" of locusts.
They have discovered that different sound frequencies cause different responses in the locust hearing system.
By studying these tiny movements they hope to develop microphones based on the functions of natural hearing.
Research leader Professor Daniel Robert said: "These could detect very faint sounds and analyse their frequency, something that current microphones cannot pick up."
The research team is also using nanotechnology techniques to study the hearing of mosquitoes.
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