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Development and hormonal release of adult behavior patterns in silkmoths

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Summary

  1. 1.

    When the pupal cuticle was peeled from aroundAntheraea pernyi andHyalophora cecropia moths on the last day of adult development, the animals showed reduced levels of adult behavior. Clawing and extension movements of the legs as well as wing flapping were seen, but complex behaviors such as the righting response and walking were absent (A. pernyi) or only occasionally observed (H. cecropia).

  2. 2.

    Injection of the eclosion hormone into “peeled” moths was followed 2 to 3 hours later by the onset of the eclosion movements. Walking behavior and the righting response appeared abruptly at the time of eclosion.

  3. 3.

    The development of certain adult behaviors was examined by peelingA. pernyi moths that were in the 14th through 19th (last) day of adult development. Animals peeled on days 16 or 17 showed distinct eclosion movements which started within a few minutes after peeling. But on day 18, this behavior became suppressed and could no longer be elicited by peeling.

  4. 4.

    Sensitivity to the eclosion hormone did not appear until day 18 and became fully developed on day 19.

  5. 5.

    Injection of picrotoxin into peeled day 19A. pernyi resulted in the abrupt onset of walking behavior.

  6. 6.

    It was concluded that certain adult behaviors such as eclosion and walking become complete and functional during adult development. But as development progresses, these then become repressed—presumably through neural inhibition. The eclosion hormone apparently acts by turning off this inhibition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Washington, 98195, Seattle, Washington, USA

    James W. Truman

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  1. James W. Truman
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Additional information

I thank Professor L.M. Riddiford for a critical reading of the manuscript. This study was supported by NSF grant BMS 75-02272.

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Truman, J.W. Development and hormonal release of adult behavior patterns in silkmoths. J. Comp. Physiol. 107, 39–48 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00663917

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00663917

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