Which moth can detect some of the highest-frequency sounds known among animals?

The greater wax moth can detect some of the highest-frequency sounds known among animals.

Galleria mellonella has tympanal organs that are extraordinarily sensitive to ultrasound. Research has shown that its hearing range extends to frequencies around 300 kilohertz, far above the upper limit of human hearing and higher than the frequencies normally used by many echolocating bats.

This sensitivity is thought to help the moth detect bats, which are major nocturnal predators. Hearing a hunting bat may give the moth time to take evasive action, although hearing ability alone does not guarantee escape. The species is also notable because its larvae live in honeybee colonies and feed on wax, pollen, and other hive materials.

The greater wax moth is sometimes called the honeycomb moth. It is not the same insect as the lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella, another hive-associated species. Both can damage beekeeping equipment, but Galleria mellonella is the species famous for its exceptionally broad ultrasonic hearing.