Physiology and Energetics of Pre-Flight Warm-Up in the Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth Malacosoma Americanum

1981 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-135
Author(s):  
TIMOTHY M. CASEY ◽  
JERI R. HEGEL ◽  
CHARLENE S. BUSER

Thoracic temperature (Tth) during pre-flight warm-up increased linearly with time at all air temperatures (Ta). The rate of pre-flight warm-up increased from 3.3 to 12.7 °C/min between Ta's of 14 and 28 °C. Head temperature remained within a few °C of Tth during warm-up, while ventral abdominal temperature remained within a few °C of Ta. Pulsation rate of the dorsal vessel in the thorax increased directly with thoracic temperature. Wing-stroke frequency (n) varied from 15 s−1Tth = 16 °C to 58 s−1 at Tth = 40 °C and was similar at any given Tth between Ta's of 14 and 28 °C. While stroke amplitude varied significantly between warm-up and tethered flight, stroke frequency was similar for the two activities in the same Tth range. Calculated rates of heat production were tightly coupled to Tth and did not vary with Ta. The change in heat production during warm-up was dependent entirely on changes in frequency of muscle contraction. Stroke work was constant at 0.68 mW between Tth of 15 and 40 °C.

1980 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-146
Author(s):  
TIMOTHY M. CASEY

Gypsy moths elevate thoracic temperature (Tth) during flight by endogenous heat production but do not regulate it. Thoracic temperature of moths in free, near-hovering flights exceeded air temperature by approximately 6–7 °C at all Tα's between 17 and 32 °C. Mean rates of mass specific oxygen consumption varied between 40 and 47 ml O2 (g·h)−1 and were not correlated with air temperature. Wing-beat frequency increased from 27 to 33 (s)−1 between air temperatures of 18 and 35 °C. Thoracic heating and cooling constants are similar in live and dead moths, and removal of thoracic scales increases heating constants by about 12%. Preflight warm-up occurs at low Tα's but the moths are capable of immediate, controlled flight at Tα's above 22 °C. Relatively low levels of heat production by the flight muscles are a consequence of low power requirements associated with the flight morphology of gypsy moths. Calculated rates of thoracic and respiratory heat loss of free-flying moths are slightly lower than values of heat production.


1973 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 677-688
Author(s):  
BERND HEINRICH ◽  
ANN E. KAMMER

1. Extracellular action potentials and thoracic temperatures (TTh) were simultaneously recorded from the fibrillar flight muscles of Bombus vosnesenskii queens during preflight warm-up, during stabilization of TTh in stationary bees, and during fixed flight. 2. In most stationary bees during warm-up and during the stabilization of TTh the rate of heat production, as calculated from thoracic temperature and passive rates of cooling, is directly related to the frequency of action potentials in the muscles. 3. The rate of heat production increases throughout warm-up primarily because of a greater spike frequency at higher TTh. 4. In stationary bees during the stabilization of TTh at different ambient temperatures (TA) the fibrillar muscles are activated by any in a continuous range of spike frequencies, rather than only by on-off responses. 5. Regulation of TTh in stationary bees may involve not only changes in the rate of heat production but also variations of heat transfer from the thorax to the abdomen. 6. During fixed flight the fibrillar muscles are usually activated at greater rates at the initiation of flight than later in flight, but the spike frequency and thus heat production are not varied in response to differences in TA and heating and cooling rates. 7. During fixed flight TTh is not regulated at specific set-points; TTh appears to vary passively in accordance with the physical laws of heating and cooling. 8. Differences in the TTh of bees in free and in fixed flight are discussed with regard to mechanisms of thermoregulation.


1971 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
BERND HEINRICH ◽  
GEORGE A. BARTHOLOMEW

The physiology of pre-flight warm-up in Manduca sexta was analysed with regard to rate of heat production, regional partitioning of heat between thorax and abdomen, and the control of blood circulation. 1. When moths which have come to equilibrium with ambient temperature undergo pre-flight warm-up, the thoracic temperature increases linearly until flight temperature (37-39 °C) is approached. 2. The rate of increase in thoracic temperature during warm-up increases directly with ambient temperature from about 2 °C/min at 15 °C to about 7.6 °C/min at 30 °C. 3. The temperature of the abdomen remains near ambient throughout the period of warm-up, but during the initial part of post-flight cooling while thoracic temperature declines sharply abdominal temperatures rise appreciably. 4. During warm-up the rate of wing vibration increases linearly with thoracic temperature. At a thoracic temperature of 15 °C the rate is about 8/sec and at 35 °C it is about 25/sec. 5. When resting animals are held by the legs they at once begin to beat their wings through a wide angle. These wing beats at any given thoracic temperature are slower than the wing vibrations characteristic of normal warm-up, but they cause thoracic temperature to increase at almost the normal rate. 6. The removal of thoracic scales causes a decrease in rate of warm-up, but in still air this does not prevent the moths from reaching flight temperature. 7. During cooling the rate of decrease in thoracic temperature is greater in live animals than in freshly killed ones. At any given difference between thoracic and ambient temperatures cooling rates are directly related to thoracic temperature. 8. In resting moths heart pulsations are usually variable with regard to rate, amplitude, rhythm, and sometimes direction, but the records of cardiac activity simultaneously obtained from thorax and abdomen show close correspondence. 9. During warm-up the records of changes in impedance from electrodes in the abdomen indicate that pulsations of the abdominal heart are either absent, greatly reduced, or at a frequency different from that simultaneously recorded from the thorax. 10. The calculated rate of heat production during warm-up is linearly related to thoracic temperature. 11. Our data are consistent with the assumption that heat produced in the thorax during warm-up is sequestered there by reduction in blood circulation between thorax and abdomen. 12. Rates of warm-up in insects are close to the values predicted on the basis of body weight from data on heterothermic birds and animals.


1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 577 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Coombs

Patterns of endothermic warm-up and flight thresholds were determined for Helicoverpa punctigera and H. armigera. Both species utilise endothermic mechanisms of heat gain to raise thoracic temperature (T(th)) to a level at which flight is possible. Endothermic warm-up, accomplished by wing shivering, was possible from a minimum of 3-5-degrees-C. Time taken to warm-up is inversely related to ambient temperature (T(amb)). At T(amb) higher than 28-degrees-C, flight was spontaneous. At T(amb) of 10-25-degrees-C, both species maintain T(th) of 20-30-degrees-C during flight. During free flight both species display independence of T(th) from T(amb) and a narrowing of the thoracic excess (T(exc)) with increasing T(amb). Tethered-flight methodologies are intrusive on normal thermoregulatory balance, manifested as increased dependence Of T(th) on T(amb). Thoracic scales act as thermal insulation, removal of scales acts to increase thermal conductance. Warm-up for both species is energetically more expensive at low T(amb) than at high T(amb). The increased energy requirements for warm-up at low ambients may limit the frequency of warm-up and flight.


1987 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 389-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
TIMOTHY M. CASEY ◽  
JERI R. HEGEL-LITTLE

Instantaneous rates of oxygen consumption (VOO2), thoracic temperature (Tth) and wing stroke frequency (n) were continuously measured at several ambient temperatures (Ta) during pre-flight warm-up and subsequent cooling in a small volume (30ml), open flow (240–300 ml min−1) respirometer. Heat production (HP) was tightly coupled to Tth and independent of Ta. The rate of change of HP (mWmin−1) was directly related to Ta. Total cost of warm-up was strongly, inversely related to Ta. The energetic cost of cooling was a small fraction of the total cost of warm-up. Increased energy expenditure occurred as a result of increases in both n and stroke work input. The latter increased from 0.58 to 1.1 mJ stroke− at low Tth (13–25°C) and was essentially constant at higher Tth (25–40°C). Wing stroke frequency increased continuously and linearly with Tth. In contrast to previous estimates based on heat exchange analyses, stroke work during warm-up was equivalent to values measured during free hovering flight. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that energy expenditure is maximized during warm-up.


1973 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 503-507
Author(s):  
GEORGE A. BARTHOLOMEW ◽  
TIMOTHY M. CASEY

The rates of pre-flight warm-up in adult Hyalophora cecropia (mean weight 3.10g) were measured 24-36 h after eclosion at 15, 20, 25, and 30 °C in still air. 1. The rate of thoracic warm-up increased linearly with ambient temperature, averaging 2.6 °C/min at 15 °C and 6.5 °C/min at 30 °C. 2. Thoracic temperatures typically reached 37-39 °C while abdominal temperatures rarely rose more than 3 °C above ambient. 3. The cooling curves of the thorax at 15° and 25 °C were straight lines and had similar slopes on a semi-logarithmic plot. 4. Our data are compatible with the idea that heat production is dependent on thoracic temperature, and are incompatible with the theory that it depends on the difference between thoracic and ambient temperatures.


1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (11) ◽  
pp. 2373-2384 ◽  
Author(s):  
M May

Anax junius is a large dragonfly that regulates thoracic temperature (Tth) during flight. This species, like several other intermittently endothermic insects, achieves control of Tth at least in part by increasing circulation of hemolymph to the abdomen at high air temperature (Ta), thus facilitating heat loss from the thorax. In this paper, I demonstrate that heat transfer to the head is also under active control, very probably owing to temperature-sensitive alteration of hemolymph circulation. As a result, head temperature (Th) is strikingly elevated above Ta during endothermic warm-up and flight. Furthermore, during unrestrained flight in the field, Th is regulated actively by increasing hemolymph circulation from the warm thorax at low Ta. Concurrent measurements of abdominal temperature (Tab) confirm that the abdomen is used as a 'thermal window' at Ta>30 °C but apparently not at lower Ta; thus, some additional mechanism(s) must exist for regulation of Tth at low Ta.


1988 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 1984-1989 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Bittel ◽  
C. Nonotte-Varly ◽  
G. H. Livecchi-Gonnot ◽  
G. L. Savourey ◽  
A. M. Hanniquet

The relationship between the physical fitness level (maximal O2 consumption, VO2max) and thermoregulatory reactions was studied in 17 adult males submitted to an acute cold exposure. Standard cold tests were performed in nude subjects, lying for 2 h in a climatic chamber at three ambient air temperatures (10, 5, and 1 degrees C). The level of physical fitness conditioned the intensity of thermoregulatory reactions to cold. For all subjects, there was a direct relationship between physical fitness and 1) metabolic heat production, 2) level of mean skin temperature (Tsk), 3) level of skin conductance, and 4) level of Tsk at the onset of shivering. The predominance of thermogenic or insulative reactions depended on the intensity of the cold stress: insulative reactions were preferential at 10 degrees C, or even at 5 degrees C, whereas colder ambient temperature (1 degree C) triggered metabolic heat production abilities, which were closely related to the subject's physical fitness level. Fit subjects have more efficient thermoregulatory abilities against cold stress than unfit subjects, certainly because of an improved sensitivity of the thermoregulatory system.


1979 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
HEINRICH BERND

1. While foraging, attacking, or leaving or returning to their hives, both the African and European honeybees maintained their thoracic temperature at 30 °C or above, independent of ambient temperature from 7 to 23 °C (in shade). 2. Thoracic temperatures were not significantly different between African and European bees. 3. Thoracic temperatures were significantly different during different activities. Average thoracic temperatures (at ambient temperatures of 8–23 °C) were lowest (30 °C) in bees turning to the hive. They were 31–32 °C during foraging, and 36–38 °C in bees leaving the hive, and in those attacking. The bees thus warm up above their temperature in the hive (32 °C) before leaving the colony. 4. In the laboratory the bees (European) did not maintain the minimum thoracic temperature for continuous flight (27 °C) at 10 °C. When forced to remain in continuous flight for at least 2 min, thoracic temperature averaged 15 °C above ambient temperature from 15 to 25 °C, and was regulated only at high ambient temperatures (30–40 °C). 5. At ambient temperatures > 25 °C, the bees heated up during return to the hive, attack and foraging above the thoracic temperatures they regulated at low ambient temperatures to near the temperatures they regulated during continuous flight. 6. In both African and European bees, attack behaviour and high thoracic temperature are correlated. 7. The data suggest that the bees regulate thoracic temperature by both behavioural and physiological means. It can be inferred that the African bees have a higher metabolic rate than the European, but their smaller size, which facilitates more rapid heat loss, results in similar thoracic temperatures.


1967 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-33
Author(s):  
JAMES EDWARD HEATH ◽  
PHILLIP A. ADAMS

1. Moths ‘warm-up’ prior to flight at mean rates of 4.06° C./min. in Celerio lineata and 2.5° C./min. in Rothschildia jacobae. The abdominal temperature rises only 2-3° C. during activity. 2. Oxygen consumption of torpid sphinx moths increases by a factor of 2.27 as temperature changes from 26° to 36° C. 3. Oxygen consumption during ‘warm-up’ increases with duration of ‘warm-up’ from about 1000 µl./g. min during the initial 30 sec. to nearly 1600µl./g. min. during the 3rd min. This increase compensates for increasing heat loss from the thorax during ‘warm-up‘. 4. When the moths are regulating thoracic temperature, oxygen consumption increases with decreasing air temperature from a mean of about 400µl./g. min at 31° C. to about 650µl./g. min. at 26° C 5. Values of O2 consumption calculated from the cooling curve of C. lineata are about 85% of the measured values of O2 consumption. 6. The giant silk moth, Rothschildia jacobae, regulates thoracic temperature during activity between about 32° and 36° C. at ambient temperature from 17° to 29° C. Moths kept at high temperatures are active longer, have more periods of activity and expend more energy for thermoregulation than moths kept at low temperatures. 7. Large moths increase metabolism during active periods to offset heat loss and thereby maintain a relatively constant internal temperature. In this regard they may be considered endothermic, like birds and mammals. 8. We estimate that male moths use 10% of their stored fat for thermoregulation, while females may use 50%.


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