[3] Ormia ochracea is a model organism in sound localization experiments because of its unique "ears", which are complex structures inside the fly's prothorax near the bases of its front legs.

The tympanic membranes of opposite ears are directly connected mechanically, allowing resolution of nanosecond time differences[4][5] and requiring a new neural coding strategy.

Various research groups have designed low-noise differential microphones inspired by O. ochracea’s directionally sensitive hearing system.

[8] The planidia develop within the body of the field cricket host, embedding initially in muscle before migrating into the abdomen.

O. ochracea larvae typically complete development and emerge after about 7 days, which subsequently kills the host.

[10] In 1975, William H. Cade experimentally demonstrated that Ormia ochracea uses the mating call of the field cricket as a means to locate its host.

For example, some members of the prey cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus have a mutation called flat wing, in which the sound-producing structures of the male forewings are erased.

[14] O. ochracea has also been shown to demonstrate a sharp response boundary between the frequencies of cricket song and bat ultrasound.

O. ochracea displays a remarkable ability to localize sound despite the incredibly small distance (450-520μm) between its acoustic sensory organs.

[15] Its sound localization ability is facilitated by a cuticular structure which joins its ears, mechanically coupling their motion and magnifying interaural differences by a factor of about 20.