Abstract
This communication reappraises the behavioral evidence concerning insect flight toward a point source of wind-borne odor in the light of meteorological information not yet considered in this context. The horizontal tracks of puffs of smoke from a generator in the open air were videorecorded and found to continue along nearly straight lines from the source for at least 25 m, while the shifting wind direction caused the plume formed by the succession of puffs to “snake” to and fro. It is inferred from this and much previous work that within such a distance the wind will be aligned on the source of any wind-borne odor wherever the odor can be detected. This being so, a strategy of finding the odor source by flying roughly upwind on meeting the odor, but holding station against the wind with or without casting across it on losing the odor (odor-modulated anemotaxis), seems likely to be highly adaptive, whereas a strategy of flying along the plume (“odor-trail following”) seems unlikely since it would often take the flier in “wrong” directions and would be more disrupted by turbulence.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aylor, D.E. 1976. Estimating peak concentrations of pheromones in the forest, pp. 177–188,in J.F. Anderson and M.K. Kaya (eds.). Perspectives in Forest Entomology. Academic Press, New York.
Aylor, D.E., Parlange, J.-Y., andGranett, J. 1976. Turbulent dispersion of disparlure in the forest and male gypsy moth response.Environ. Entomol. 5:1026–1032.
Baker, T.C., andKuenen, L.P.S. 1982. Pheromone location in flying moths. A supplementary non-anemotactic mechanism.Science 216:424–427.
Cardé, R.T. 1979. Behavioral responses of moths to female-produced pheromones and the utilization of attractant-baited traps for population monitoring, pp. 286–315,in R.L. Rabb and G.G. Kennedy (eds.). Movement of Highly Mobile Insects: Concepts and Methodology in Research. North Carolina State University, Raleigh.
Cramer, H.E.,Record, F.A., andVaughan, H.C. 1959. The study of the diffusion of gases or aerosols in the lower atmosphere. Final report, M.I.T., AFCR-TR-59–207.
Davidson, B., andHalitsky, J. 1958. A method of estimating the field of instantaneous ground concentration from tower bivane data.J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc. 7:316–319.
Farkas, S.R., andShorey, H.H. 1972. Chemical trail-following by flying insects: A mechanism for orientation to a distant odor source.Science 178:67–68.
Farkas, S.R., andShorey, H.H. 1974. Mechanisms of orientation to a distant odor source, pp. 81–95,in M.C. Birch (ed.). Pheromones. North Holland, Amsterdam.
Gifford, F., Jr. 1959. Statistical properties of a fluctuating plume dispersion model, pp. 117–137,in F.N. Frenkiel and P.A. Sheppard (eds.). Atmospheric Diffusion and Air Pollution. Academic Press, New York.
Gifford, F.A., Jr., 1960. Peak to average concentration ratios according to a fluctuating plume dispersion model.Int. J. Air Pollut. 3:253–260.
Kennedy, J.S. 1977. Olfactory responses to distant plants and other odor sources, pp. 67–91,in H.H. Shorey and J.J. McKelvey, Jr. (eds.). Chemical Control of Insect Behavior: Theory and Application. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Kennedy, J.S. Ludlow, A.R., andSanders, C.J. 1980. Guidance system used in moth sex attraction.Nature 288:475–477.
Kennedy, J.S., Ludlow, A.R., andSanders, C.J. 1981. Guidance of flying male moths by wind-borne sex pheromone.Physiol. Entomol. 6:395–412.
Legg, B.J., andStrange, S.A. 1980. Diffusion of gaseous plumes within crop canopies. Rep. Rothamsted Exp. Stn. 1979, Part 1:162.
Marsh, D., Kennedy, J.S., andLudlow, A.R. 1978. An analysis of anemotactic zigzagging flight in male moths stimulated by pheromone.Physiol. Entomol. 3:221–240.
Marsh, D., Kennedy, J.S., andLudlow, A.R. 1981. Analysis of zigzagging flight in moths; a correction.Physiol. Entomol. 6:225.
Murlis, J., andJones, C.D. 1981. Fine-scale structure of odour plumes in relation to insect orientation to distant pheromone and other attractant sources.Physiol. Entomol. 6:71–86.
Pasquill, F. 1974. Atmospheric Diffusion. The Dispersion of Windborne Material from Industrial and Other Sources. Ellis Harwood Limited, Chichester, 429 pp.
Shorey, H.H. 1973. Behavioral responses to insect pheromones.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 18:349–380.
Shorey, H.H. 1976. Animal Communication by Pheromones. Academic Press, New York. 167 pp.
Traynier, R.M.M. 1968. Sex attraction in the Mediterranean flour moth,Anagsta kühniella: Location of the female by the male.Can. Entomol. 100:5–10.
Wall, C., andPerry, J.N. 1978. Interactions between pheromone traps for the pea moth,Cydia nigricana (F.).Entomol. Exp. Appl. 24:155–162.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
David, C.T., Kennedy, J.S., Ludlow, A.R. et al. A reappraisal of insect flight towards a distant point source of wind-borne odor. J Chem Ecol 8, 1207–1215 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00990753
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00990753