Summary
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1.
Caterpillars of the cabbage mothBarathra brassicae react to low frequency sound stimuli with defensive reactions (stopping, squirming, dropping).
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2.
In the sound field of a standing wave in a Kundt's tube the caterpillars do not react at places of maximal sound pressure, but only where sound-produced air motion is maximal. It is shown in controls that these reactions are not released by vibration of the supporting platform.
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3.
The threshold curve of sensitivity to sound is measured in the Kundt's tube for 300 Hz ≦f≦1 000 Hz and in a different setup for lower frequencies. Caterpillars react to sound between 40≦f≦1 000 Hz; threshold is lowest at 100 Hz≦f≦ 600 Hz, where a constant displacement amplitude of 1.5 to 2·10−4cm is sufficient to release defensive reactions to sound. Displacement is therefore regarded to be the effective stimulus parameter.
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4.
8 filiform hairs standing dorso-laterally on the thoracal segments are responsible for sound sensitivity. Their length is 508∓26 μm, their basal width 5∓1 μm; each of them is innervated by a single receptor cell. Sound reception thresholds are normal as long as 4 of these hairs are intact; with 2 intact hairs, the threshold is increased threefold and with only 1, sixfold.
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5.
The conditions of sound—or rather medium vibration—reception in the far-field and in the near-field of sound sources are discussed with reference to possible natural sources of vibrational stimulation for the caterpillars.
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We thank Prof. Dr. David Bentley for kindly reading the manuscript.
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Markl, H., Tautz, J. The sensitivity of hair receptors in caterpillars ofBarathra brassicae L. (lepidoptera, noctuidae) to particle movement in a sound field. J. Comp. Physiol. 99, 79–87 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01464713
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01464713