Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physiology of insect rhythms

IV. Role of the brain in the regulation of the flight rhythm of the giant silkmoths

  • Published:
Journal of comparative physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

  1. 1.

    Male giant silkmoths generally show 3 distinct peaks of flight activity each day: a brief burst of flight after lights-off (α 1), a longer bout of activity later in the night (α 2), and a lights-on response. Theα 1 andα 2 activities are under circadian control, whereas the lights-on response occurs in response to an exogenous signal.

  2. 2.

    Surgical experiments showed that the brain was necessary for the expression of the flight rhythm. Moreover, an intact neural pathway from the brain to the thoracic motor centers was needed for overt rhythmicity.

  3. 3.

    Rhythmic flight activity continued after the removal of the optic lobes but not after excision of the cerebral lobes.

  4. 4.

    Extirpation of the compound eyes did not interfere with the entrainment of theα 1 andα 2 peaks, but it abolished the lights-on response. Ablation of the ocelli had no effect on any of the flight peaks. It was concluded that the flight clock(s) was entrained by an extraretinal photoreceptor.

  5. 5.

    Experiments involving covering the head with opaque wax indicated that the extraretinal receptor was in the head.

  6. 6.

    When the head was covered with opaque wax but the compound eyes were left exposed, the moths showed free-running activity even though they were in a photoperiod regimen. Consequently, the only pathway of photoperiod information to the locomotor clock is apparently via the extraretinal receptor.

  7. 7.

    It was concluded that adult activity was most likely controlled by centers in the cerebral lobe area of the brain. These presumably receive light directly and control activity via neural pathways to the thoracic ganglia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aschoff, J.: Exogenous and endogenous components in circadian rhythms. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol.25, 11–28 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Azaryan, A. G., Tyshchenko, V. P.: Role of cerebral neurons in regulation of the circadian rhythm of behavior of the cricketGryllus domesticus L. Dokl. Biol. Sci.186, 464–466 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady, J.: The physiology of insect circadian rhythms. Adv. Insect Physiol.10, 1–115 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickens, J. C., Eaton, J. L.: External ocelli in Lepidoptera previously considered to be anocellate. Nature (Lond.)242, 205–206 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumortier, B.: Photoreception in the circadian rhythm of stridulatory activity inEphippiger (Ins., Orthoptera). Likely existence of two photoreceptive systems. J. Comp. Physiol. 77, 80–112 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinks, C. F.: Relationship between serotonin and the circadian rhythm in some nocturnal moths. Nature (Lond.)214, 386–387 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann, K.: Splitting of the circadian rhythm as a function of light intensity. In: Biochronometry (M. Menaker, ed.), p. 134–148. Washington: National Academy of Sciences Press 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Koyama, N.: Studies on the compound eye of the bombyeid moths. J. Shinshu Univ.4, 97–144 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Loher, W.: Circadian control of stridulation in the cricketTeleogryllus commodus Walker. J. comp. Physiol.79, 173–190 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Loher, W., Chandrashekaran, M. K.: Circadian rhythmicity in the oviposition of the grasshopperChorthippus curtipennis. J. Insect. Physiol.16, 1677–1688 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishiitsutsuji-Uwo, J., Pittendrigh, C. S.: Central nervous system control of circadian rhythmicity in the cockroach. II. The pathway of light signals that entrain the rhythm. Z. vergl. Physiol.58, 1–13 (1968a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishiitsutsuji-Uwo, J., Pittendrigh, C. S.: Central nervous system control of circadian rhythmicity in the cockroach. III. The optic lobes, locus of the driving oscillation? Z. vergl. Physiol.58, 14–46 (1968b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowosielski, J. W., Patton, R. L.: Studies on circadian rhythm of the house cricket,Gryllus domesticus L. J. Insect Physiol.9, 401–410 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pittendrigh, C. S., Bruce, V. G., Kaus, P.: On the significance of transients in daily rhythms. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)44, 965–973 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Roeder, K. D.: The control of tonus and looomotor activity in the praying mantis (Mantis religiosa L.). J. exp. Zool.76, 353–374 (1937)

    Google Scholar 

  • Riddiford, L. M.: The role of hormones in the reproductive behavior of female wild silkmoths. In: Experimental analysis of insect behaviour (L. Barton Browne, ed.), p. 278–285. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Riddiford, L. M., Johnson, L. K.: Synchronization of hatching ofAntheraea pernyi. Proc. XIIIth Internatl. Congr. Entomol., vol.1, 431 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Riddiford, L. M., Williams, C. M.: Role of the corpora cardiaca in the behavior of saturniid moths. I. Release of sex pheromone. Biol. Bull.140, 1–7 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, S. K., Skopik, S. D., Driskill, R. J.: Circadian rhythms in cockroaches: does brain hormone mediate the locomotor cycle ? In: Biochronometry (M. Menaker, ed.), p. 505–516. Washington: National Academy of Sciences Press 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, J. W.: Hour-glass behavior of the circadian clock controlling eclosion of the silkmothAntheraea pernyi. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)68, 595–599 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, J. W.: Physiology if insect rhythms. I. Circadian organization of the endocrine events underlying the moulting cycle of larval tobacco hornworms. J. exp. Biol.57, 805–820 (1972a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, J. W.: Physiology of insect rhythms. II. The silkmoth brain as the location of the biological clock controlling eclosion. J. comp. Physiol.81, 99–114 (1972b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, J. W.: How moths “turn on”: a study of the action of hormones on the nervous system. Amer. Scientist61, 700–706 (1973a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, J. W.: Temperature sensitive programming of the silkmoth flight clock: a mechanism for adapting to the seasons. Science182, 727–729 (1973b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, J. W., Endo, P. T.: Physiology of insect ecdysis. Neural and hormonal factors involved in wing spreading behaviour of moths. J. exp. Biol., in press (1974)

  • Truman, J. W., Riddiford, L. M.: Neuroendocrine control of eedysis in silkmoths. Science167, 1624–1626 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C. M.: Physiology of insect diapause: the role of the brain in the production and termination of pupal dormancy in the giant silkmoth,Platysamia cecropia. Biol. Bull.90, 234–243 (1946)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C. M.: Physiology of insect diapause. IV. The brain and prothoracic glands as an endocrine system in theCecropia silkworm. Biol. Bull.103, 120–138 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. James W. Truman

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Washington, 98195, Seattle, Washington, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

    James W. Truman

Authors
  1. James W. Truman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Truman, J.W. Physiology of insect rhythms. J. Comp. Physiol. 95, 281–296 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00609702

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00609702

Keywords

Search

Navigation