TY - JOUR
T1 - Steering responses of adult and nymphal crickets to light, with special reference to the head rolling movement
AU - Tomioka, Kenji
AU - Yamaguchi, Tsuneo
N1 - Funding Information:
FLYING insects frequently use light in regulating stability during flight by ensuring that it falls upon the dorsal surface. This effect of light was partially investigated by VONB UDDENBRCIC(1K9 37) in terms of the ‘Lichtriickenreaktion’ (i.e. the dorsal light reaction). This reaction has been analysed in detail in the dragonfly Anax imperator (MITTELSTAEDT1, 950) and in the locust Schistocerca gregaria (GOODMAN, 1965). These investigators have shown that stabilization of flight in these insects is visually mediated and involves rotation of first the head and then the body into alignment with a dorsal light, by means of the proprioceptive sensory hairs in the neck region. It has been found in the blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala that the position of the head has a substantial influence on the turning tendencies during tethered flight: active head turning (rotation about the dorso-ventral axis) guided visually is followed by a body turn in the same direction (LAND, 1973, 1975), and a passive (forced) head turn evokes an active turning tendency in the same direction by the thorax (LISKE, 1977). On the other hand, it has been found that in addition to head rotation, the locust uses rudder-like movements of the abdomen and legs as specific manoeuvres in correcting yaws and rolls both in flight Adult crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) and progeny reared in the laboratory were used throughout this and encouragement. We are indebted to Mr. N. FURUKAWA * We would like to thank Prof. K. S. IWATA for his advice study. They were maintained under controlled for identification of the wing muscles and for help with the conditions of temperature (26-28” C) with a 12 : 12 hr observation of flight behaviours. This work was supported in light to dark cycle. They were fed dry insect food part by a grant in aid from the Japanese Ministry of (Oriental Kobo Co.) and water via dampened Education to T. Y. absorbent cotton renewed daily. Under these t To whom offprint conditions, development from oviposition to adult
PY - 1980
Y1 - 1980
N2 - Most tethered adult crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) assumed flight postures with or without flapping their wings in a windstream. Nymphal crickets (sixth and seventh, i.e. final, instars) also displayed the flight posture in spite of the incompleteness of wing development. These adult nymphal crickets rolled their heads towards the light source in response to unequal illumination of the compound eyes only while maintaining the flight posture. The amphtude of the head rolling movements was proportional to the change of light position up to 120°C, and independent of the light intensity if the duration was longer than 1 sec. The unequal illumination could also induce a transient increase in discharge frequency of the wing muscles on both sides, a decrease in wing beat amplitude of the ipsilateral wing on the illuminated side, and bending movements of the legs and abdomen towards the light. Cutting either of the nerve connectives at any level between the subosophageal and metathoracic ganglia did not affect the response of either the head or the abdomen to illumination. These results are discussed in relation to the steering mechanism associated with the dorsal light reaction.
AB - Most tethered adult crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) assumed flight postures with or without flapping their wings in a windstream. Nymphal crickets (sixth and seventh, i.e. final, instars) also displayed the flight posture in spite of the incompleteness of wing development. These adult nymphal crickets rolled their heads towards the light source in response to unequal illumination of the compound eyes only while maintaining the flight posture. The amphtude of the head rolling movements was proportional to the change of light position up to 120°C, and independent of the light intensity if the duration was longer than 1 sec. The unequal illumination could also induce a transient increase in discharge frequency of the wing muscles on both sides, a decrease in wing beat amplitude of the ipsilateral wing on the illuminated side, and bending movements of the legs and abdomen towards the light. Cutting either of the nerve connectives at any level between the subosophageal and metathoracic ganglia did not affect the response of either the head or the abdomen to illumination. These results are discussed in relation to the steering mechanism associated with the dorsal light reaction.
KW - Cricket
KW - head rolling movement
KW - light
KW - steering response
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U2 - 10.1016/0022-1910(80)90109-2
DO - 10.1016/0022-1910(80)90109-2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0008559885
SN - 0022-1910
VL - 26
SP - 47-49,51-57
JO - Journal of Insect Physiology
JF - Journal of Insect Physiology
IS - 1
ER -