Insect Locomotion on Land

  • Fred Delcomyn
Chapter

Abstract

In order for an insect (or any animal) to walk, it must be able to coordinate the movements of its legs. From a biologist’s point of view, one interesting aspect of walking behavior is the problem of how animals achieve the necessary coordination. This problem is especially acute in insects and other arthropods because of the number of legs involved. While there are many interesting aspects to the problem, in this article I will consider primarily two questions: (1) What sequences of leg movements do insects actually use as they walk? (2) How well do we understand the factors which, during walking, underlie the movements of individual legs?

Keywords

Stick Insect Water Strider Interlimb Coordination Step Pattern Tripod Gait 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Boudreaux, H.B. 1979. Arthropod Phylogeny with Special Reference to Insects. Wiley, New York.Google Scholar
  2. Bowdan, E. 1978. Walking and rowing in the water strider, Gerris remigis I. A cinematographic analysis of walking. J. Comp. Physiol. 123, 43–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Bowerman, R.F. 1977. The control of arthropod walking. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 56A, 231–247.Google Scholar
  4. Burns, M.D. 1973. The control of walking in orthoptera. I. Leg movements in normal walking. J. Exp. Biol. 58, 45–58.Google Scholar
  5. Camhi, J.M. and Tom, W. 1978. The escape behavior of the cock-roach Periplaneta americana. I. Turning response to wind puffs. J. Comp. Physiol. 128, 193–201.Google Scholar
  6. Cruse, H. 1976a. The function of the legs in the free walking stick insect, Carausius morosus. J. Comp. Physiol. 112, 235–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Cruse, H. 1976b. The control of body position in the stick insect (Carausius morosus) when walking over uneven surfaces. Biol. Cybernetics 24, 25–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Cruse, H. ‘1979. A new model describing the coordination pattern of the legs of a walking stick insect. Biol. Cybernetics 32, 107–113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Cruse, H. 1980a. A quantitative model of walking incorporating central and peripheral influences. I. The control of the individual leg. Biol. Cybernetics 37, 131–136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Cruse, H. 1980b. A quantitative model of walking incorporating central and peripheral influences. II. The connections between the different legs. Biol. Cybernetics 37, 137–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Cruse, H. and Saxler, G. 1980a. Oscillations of force in the standing legs of a walking insect (Carausius morosus). Biol. Cybernetics 36, 159–163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Cruse, H. and Saxler, G. 1980b. The coordination of force oscillations and of leg movement in a walking insect (Carausius morosus). Biol. Cybernetics 36, 165–171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Delcomyn, F. 1971a. The locomotion of the cockroach Periplaneta americana. J. Exp. Biol. 54, 443–452.Google Scholar
  14. Delcomyn, F. 1971b. The effect of limb amputation on locomotion in the cockroach Periplaneta americana. J. Exp. Biol. 54, 453–469.Google Scholar
  15. Delcomyn, F. 1980. Neural basis of rhythmic behavior in animals. Science 210, 492–498.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Etienne, A.S. 1977. A descriptive and functional analysis of a stereotyped pattern of locomotion after target tracking in a predatory insect. Anim. Behay. 25, 429–446.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Evans, M.E.G. 1977. Locomotion in the coleoptera adephaga, especially carabidae. J. Zool. Lond. 181, 189–226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Franklin, R., Bell, W.J. and Jander, R. 1981. Rotational locomotion by the cockroach, Blattella germanica. J. Insect Physiol. (In press).Google Scholar
  19. Frantsevich, L.I. and Mokrushov, P.A. 1980. Turning and righting in Geotrupes (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). J. Comp. Physiol. 136, 279–289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Graham, D. 1972. A behavioural analysis of the temporal organi-sation of walking movements in the 1st instar and adult stick insect (Carausius morosus). J. Comp. Physiol. 81, 23–52CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. Graham, D. 1977a. Simulation of a model for the coordination of leg movement in free walking insects. Biol. Cybernetics 26, 187–198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Graham, D. 1977b. The effect of amputation and leg restraint on the free walking coordination of the stick insect Carausius morosus. J. Comp. Physiol. 116, 91–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. Graham, D. 1978a. Unusual step patterns in the free walking grasshopper Neoconocephalus robustus. I. General features of the step patterns. J. Exp. Biol. 73, 147–157.Google Scholar
  24. Graham, D. 1978b. Unusual step patterns in the free walking grasshopper Neoconocephalus robustus. II. A critical test of the leg interactions underlying different models of hexapod co-ordination. J. Exp. Biol. 73, 159–172.Google Scholar
  25. Graham, D. 1979a. Effects of circum-oesophageal lesion on the behaviour of the stick insect Carausius morosus. I. Cyclic behaviour patterns. Biol. Cybernetics 32, 139–145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Graham, D. 1979b. Effects of circum-oesophageal lesion on the behaviour of the stick insect Carausius morosus. II. Changes in walking co-ordination. Biol. Cybernetics 32, 147–152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. Graham, D. and Bässler, U. 1981. Effects of afference sign reversal on motor activity in walking stick insects (Carausius morosus). J. Exp. Biol. (in press).Google Scholar
  28. Greene, S.I. and Spirito, C.P. 1979. Inter-limb coordination during slow walking in the cockroach. II. Effects of cutting thoracic connectives. J. Exp. Biol. 78, 245–253.Google Scholar
  29. Hoyle, G. 1976. “Arthropod Walking,” in: Neural Control of Locomotion, (R.M. Herman, S. Grillner, P.S.G. Stein, D.G. Stuart, eds.), Plenum Press, New York (137–179).Google Scholar
  30. Hughes, G.M. 1952. The co-ordination of insect movements. I. The walking movements of insects. J. Exp. Biol. 29, 267–284.Google Scholar
  31. Hughes, G.M. 1957. The co-ordination of insect movements. II. The effect of limb amputation and cutting of commissures in the cockroach (Blatta orientalis). J. Exp. Biol. 34, 306–333.Google Scholar
  32. Hughes, G.M. 1965. “Locomotion: terrestrial,” in: The Physiology of Insecta, (M. Rockstein, ed.), Vol. II, Academic Press, New York (227–254).Google Scholar
  33. Hughes, G.M. and Mill, P.J. 1974. “Locomotion: terrestrial,” in: The Physiology of Insecta, 2nd Edition (M. Rockstein, ed.), Vol. III, Academic Press, New York (335–379).Google Scholar
  34. Manton, S.M. (1953) Locomotory habits and the evolution of the larger arthropodan groups. Symp. Soc. Exp. Biol. 7, 339–376.Google Scholar
  35. Manton, S.M. 1972. The evolution of arthropodan locomotory mechanisms Part 10. Locomotory habits, morphology and evolution of the hexapod classes. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 51, 203–400.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Pearson, K.G. and Iles, J.F. 1970. Discharge patterns of coxal levator and depressor motoneurones of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana. J. Exp. Biol. 52, 139–165.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  37. Pearson, K.G. and Iles, J.F. 1973. Nervous mechanisms underlying intersegmental co-ordination of leg movements during walking in the cockroach. J. Exp. Biol. 58, 725–744.Google Scholar
  38. Reingold, S.C. and Camhi, J.M. 1977. A quantitative analysis of rhythmic leg movements during three different behaviors in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana. J. Insect Physiol. 23, 1407–1420.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. Roeder, K.D. 1937. The control of tonus and locomotor activity in the praying mantis (Mantis religiosa L.). J. Exp. Zool. 76, 353–374.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. Sherman, E., Novotny, M. and Camhi, J.M. 1977. A modified walking rhythm employed during righting behavior in the cockroach Gromphadorhina portentosa. J. Comp. Physiol. 113, 303–361.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. Spirito, C.P. and Mushrush, D.L. 1979. Interlimb coordination during slow walking in the cockroach. I. Effects of substrate alterations. J. Exp. Biol. 78, 233–243.Google Scholar
  42. Wendler, G. 1964. Laufen und Stehen der Stabheuschrecke Carausius morosus: Sinnesborstenfelder in den Beingelenken als Glieder von Regelkreisen. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 48, 198–250.Google Scholar
  43. Wendler, G. 1966. The co-ordination of walking movements in arthropods. Symp. Soc. Exp. Biol. 20, 229–249.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  44. Wendler, G. 1978. “Erzeugung und Kontrolle koordinierter Bewegungen bei Tieren,” in: Kybernetik 1977 (G. Hauske, E. Butenandt, eds.), Oldenbourg, Munich (11–34).Google Scholar
  45. Wilson, D.M. 1966. Insect walking. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 11, 103–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  46. Wilson, D.M. 1967. “An approach to the control of rhythmic behavior,” in: Invertebrate Nervous Systems (C.A.G. Wiersma, ed.), University of Chicago Press, Chicago (219–229).Google Scholar
  47. Zolotov, V., Frantsevich, L. and Falk, E.M. 1975. Kinematik der phototaktischen Drehung bei der Honigbiene Apis mellifera L. J. Comp. Physiol. 97, 339–353.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Plenum Press, New York 1981

Authors and Affiliations

  • Fred Delcomyn
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of EntomologyUniversity of IllinoisUrbanaUSA

Personalised recommendations