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Motor control of orientation to prey by the waterstrider, Gerris remigis

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Orientation to prey by the waterstrider Gerris remigis has been examined with the aid of motion pictures and electromyography.

  2. 2.

    Localization of prey occurs in a series of discrete turning movements. The angular component of each turn, toward a target, is correlated with the angular deviation of the source of ripples from the longitudinal body axis (Figs. 2 and 3).

  3. 3.

    The leg movements during turning are graded as a fuction of the turn produced. The two mesothoracic legs and the metathoracic leg ipsilateral to the target are most intimately involved in producing the torque during a turn (Fig. 5).

  4. 4.

    Myograms from the large mesothoracic muscles confirm the results of the filmed analysis. The phase of firing of motor neurons innervating three large mesothoracic muscles depend on the angular deviation of the target (Figs. 7-11).

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Author notes

  1. R. K. Murphey

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University of California, 94720, Berkeley, California, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

    R. K. Murphey

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  1. R. K. Murphey
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Murphey, R.K. Motor control of orientation to prey by the waterstrider, Gerris remigis . Z. Vergl. Physiol. 72, 150–167 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297819

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297819

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