Influence of juvenile hormone on growth and digestion in fifth instar larvae and adults of Locusta migratoria

Food utilization was measured in female fifth instar larvae and adults of the migratory locust by following the weight of food ingested, the weight of faeces produced, and the increase in body weight. These parameters were measured in normally developing locusts, in locusts that had been implanted with a pair of active corpora allata (CA) in the beginning of the fifth instar period, and in allatectomized locusts, operated on the first day after adult ecdysis.A high titre of corpus allatum hormone results in a considerably higher water content of the insects; allatectomy reduces this content. The dry weight of the locusts is not essentially influenced by excess or absence of juvenile hormone.Food consumption in corpora-allata-implanted locusts does not differ from that in normally developing insects. Within each developmental period the digestive capacity remains constant, but the absolute value of this capacity may differ between the two developmental periods. The approximate digestibility is somewhat higher after CA-implantation and lower after allatectomy. The efficiency of conversion of digested food into body substance is greater in normally developing larvae than in adults. CA-implantation lowers this efficiency in developing larvae. Allatectomy slightly raises the efficiency of conversion in adult locusts.In the second half period of larval development, CA-implantation raises the respiratory rate, as estimated by measuring oxygen consumption. During adult development no significant influence of CA-implantation on respiration was established. Relations between the amount of food digested, the efficiency of conversion of digested food into body substance, and the respiratory activity are discussed.     

绿僵菌侵染后东亚飞蝗营养生理参数变化研究

本文采用饵剂饲喂方法研究东亚飞蝗Locusta migratoria manilensis(Meyen)营养生理参数变化,结果表明:绿僵菌(Metarhizium anisopliae)侵染后,5个温度梯度下蝻期总取食量分别为96.4、108.3、131.9、103.2、249.5mg;21、24、27、30℃4个温度...     

Auditory-evoked evasive manoeuvres in free-flying locusts and moths

We presented free-flying locusts (Locusta migratoria L.) with sounds that varied in temporal structure and carrier frequency as they flew toward a light source in a flight room under controlled temperature and light conditions. Previous studies have shown tethered locusts react more often to trains of 30-kHz pulses than to pulse trains below 10 kHz. Further, this acoustic startle response has been suggested to function in bat-avoidance. We expected free-flying locusts to respond similarly; however, we found locusts responded to all sounds we presented, not just high-frequency, bat-like sounds. Response rates of turns, loops, and dives varied from 6% to 26% but were statistically independent of carrier frequency and/or pulse structure. Free-flying moths and tethered locusts were tested using a subset of our acoustic stimuli under the same temperature and light conditions as the free-flying locusts. Moth responses were carrier frequency dependent as were responses of tethered locusts positioned along the flight path observed in our free-flight trials. All responses were unaffected by a 90% reduction in room light. We conclude that locusts possess an acoustic startle response evocable in free flight, however, free-flying locusts do not show the same discrimination observed in tethered locusts under similar conditions.Abbreviations ASR acoustic startle response - dB SPL decibel sound pressure level (RMS re: 20 Pa)     

Factors affecting the rate of ingestion of liquids by the locust, Chortoicetes terminifera

Neither the overall rate of intake of liquids by adults of Chortoicetes terminifera, calculated over the course of a whole meal, nor the rate of consumption during the first half of meals was dependent upon the stimulating power of the liquid, water being taken at the same rate as a veriety of more powerfully stimulating sucrose solutions. Rates of intake tended to decrease towards the end of meals, the greatest decreases occurring when the locusts consumed large volumes of liquid. When locusts were given alternate drops of water and 1·0 M sucrose, the rates of consumption of the two kinds of drops were similar for most of the meal, but towards the end of the meal drops of sucrose solution were consumed more rapidly than those of water.     

Mermis nigrescens: physiological relationship with its host, the adult desert locust Schistocerca gregaria

Adult desert locusts were experimentally infected per os with 30, 50, or 60 Mermis nigrescens eggs, and changes in the host physiology were recorded. Larval nematodes were recovered from the hemocoel and counted at appropriate times after infection. The food consumption and blood volume of the host were unaffected by the parasitism, but the nematode significantly impaired the ability of male locusts to excrete the injected dye, amaranth, from their hemolymph. The total carbohydrate in the hemolymph of infected male and female locusts was severely depleted during the active growth period of the nematode and the possible utilization of these carbohydrates by the nematode are discussed. The total amino acid and protein levels in the blood of the host were unaffected by the nematode development, although concomittant changes in the levels of both these blood metabolites occurred in all locusts throughout the experimental period. However, although changes of this nature reflected the normal pattern of protein synthesis during oocyte development and oviposition in control locusts, the nematode suppressed oocyte development and caused oocyte resorption in the female host. The nematode did not significantly affect the level of total protein and amino acids in the flight muscles of male and female locusts, but a significant decrease in the level of fat body proteins and amino acids was recorded in infected hosts 16 and 21 days after infection. The possible effect of the nematode on protein metabolism by the host fat body is discussed in relation to the nutritional requirements of the nematode and involvement of the host endocrine system.     

Separating food and water deprivation in locusts: effects on the patterns of consumption, locomotion and growth

Abstract. In a factorial experiment, fifth-instar Locusta migratoria (L.) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) were given either dry food (lyophilized grass) and drinking water, food only, water only, or neither food nor water.Food consumption and insect weight were measured daily, and the behaviour of each locust was recorded for 5 h on each of four consecutive days and for 2.5 h on the fifth.Consumption declined progressively in locusts given food only, and those given water only were not observed to drink after the first day of food deprivation.The decline in food consumption on the first day was accounted for by a decrease in the average duration of feeds, which remained constant thereafter.The further decline in consumption over subsequent days was due to a progressive decline in the number of feeds.Although food availability did not slow weight loss relative to locusts given neither food nor water, the availability of water without food did.The proportion of time locomoting increased in all deprivation treatments, but the pattern of change across the five observation days differed markedly between treatments.Locusts given food but no water increased locomotion from 20% of the time budget (the value for controls) to 30% on the first day of deprivation, and by the second day had reached a plateau of approximately 65%.which was maintained until the experiment was terminated on day 5.In contrast, locusts given water but no food approached the 65% level of locomotion on the first day, which was stutistically greater than the 55% observed in those deprived of both food and water.This increase was due both to an increase in the number of locomotion bouts initiated and an increase in the average duration of locomotion bouts.On the second and third days, all deprivation treatments maintained locomotion at around 65%.By day 4, locomotion had decreased to approximately 15% in locusts deprived of both food and water, but not in those deprived of food only or water only.Unlike those given only food, locusts given only water showed a reduction in locomotion of c. 15% on the fifth day.     

Ontogeny of tracheal dimensions and gas exchange capacities in the grasshopper, Schistocerca americana

How does body size affect the structure and gas exchange capacities of insect tracheae? Do insects become more oxygen-limited as they grow? We addressed these questions by measuring the dimensions of two transverse tracheae within the abdomen of American locusts of different ages, and evaluating the potential for diffusion or convection to provide adequate gas exchange. The grasshopper abdomen has longitudinal tracheae that run along the midgut, heart, nerve cord, and lateral body wall. Transverse tracheae run from each spiracle to the longitudinal tracheae. Dorsal air sacs attach near each spiracle. In both transverse tracheae studied, diffusive capacities increased more slowly than metabolic rates with age, and calculated oxygen gradients necessary to supply oxygen by diffusion increased exponentially with age. However, surgical studies demonstrated that transport of gas through these transverse tracheae occurred by convection, at least in adults. Convective capacities paralleled metabolic rates with age, and the calculated pressure gradients required to sustain oxygen consumption rates by convection were independent of age. Thus, in growing grasshoppers, tracheal capacities matched tissue oxygen needs. Our morphological and physiological data together suggest that use of convection allows older grasshoppers to overcome potential limitations on size imposed by diffusion through tracheal systems.     

Ontogeny of tracheal dimensions and gas exchange capacities in the grasshopper, Schistocerca americana

How does body size affect the structure and gas exchange capacities of insect tracheae? Do insects become more oxygen-limited as they grow? We addressed these questions by measuring the dimensions of two transverse tracheae within the abdomen of American locusts of different ages, and evaluating the potential for diffusion or convection to provide adequate gas exchange. The grasshopper abdomen has longitudinal tracheae that run along the midgut, heart, nerve cord, and lateral body wall. Transverse tracheae run from each spiracle to the longitudinal tracheae. Dorsal air sacs attach near each spiracle. In both transverse tracheae studied, diffusive capacities increased more slowly than metabolic rates with age, and calculated oxygen gradients necessary to supply oxygen by diffusion increased exponentially with age. However, surgical studies demonstrated that transport of gas through these transverse tracheae occurred by convection, at least in adults. Convective capacities paralleled metabolic rates with age, and the calculated pressure gradients required to sustain oxygen consumption rates by convection were independent of age. Thus, in growing grasshoppers, tracheal capacities matched tissue oxygen needs. Our morphological and physiological data together suggest that use of convection allows older grasshoppers to overcome potential limitations on size imposed by diffusion through tracheal systems.     

Do desert locust hoppers develop gregarious characteristics by watching a video?

Various sensory stimuli have been suggested to induce gregarious body coloration in locusts, but most previous studies ignored the importance of substrate color. This study tested the effects of visual, olfactory and tactile stimuli from other locusts on the induction of gregarious body coloration in single (isolated-reared) Schistocerca gregaria nymphs housed in yellow-green cups. Odor from gregarious (crowd-reared) locusts, which is believed to induce black patterns in single locusts, had little effect when applied to visually isolated nymphs at the 2nd stadium onward, and all test nymphs remained green without black patterns at the last stadium, as in controls reared without odor and visual stimuli. Visual stimuli alone induced black patterns when a single solitarious nymph was allowed to see other locusts in another cup. The degree of black patterns increased as the number of locusts shown increased, and some test nymphs developed body coloration typically observed in gregarious forms. A classical morphometric ratio (hind femur length/head width) shifted toward the value typical of gregarious forms when the single nymphs were allowed to see 5 or 10 locusts. Single nymphs also developed black patterns when presented green conspecific nymphs and adults of two hemipteran species kept in another cup. No synergetic effects of visual and odor stimuli were detected. Movies of locusts, crickets and tadpoles were found effective in inducing black patterns in single locusts. Ontogenetic variation in the sensitivity to crowding and experimental methodology might be responsible for some discrepancies in the conclusions among different researchers.     

Effect of Paranosema locustae (Microsporidia) on the behavioural phases of Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in the laboratory

The ability of parasites to modify the behaviour of their hosts is a wide spread phenomenon, but the effects of microsporidian parasites on locust behaviour remain unexplored. Here the frequencies of directional changes (ND) and jumping (NJ) per minute of gregarious locusts infected with 2000 spores of the microsporidian parasite Paranosema locustae were significantly different from those of untreated locusts 10 and 16 days after infection, being similar to values for solitary nymphs. In contrast, the behaviour of locusts inoculated with the lower doses of 200 spores/locust was sometimes like that of solitary nymphs. At other times, behaviour was intermediate between solitary and gregarious, i.e. transitional. The rearing density did not affect the turning and jumping behaviour of infected locusts, and their behaviours were similar to those of solitary locusts at 10–16 days after infection. Our study demonstrates that infection with P. locustae may lead gregarious locusts to change some of their behaviour to that typical of solitary locusts.     

Effect of Paranosema (Nosema) locustae (Microsporidia) on morphological phase transformation of Locusta migratoria manilensis (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Field and laboratory studies demonstrated that Paranosema (Nosema) locustae had significant effects on the morphological phase transformation of Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen 1835). In the field, spraying P. locustae on gregarious locusts caused a substantial population reduction by 16 days after treatment, with most of the surviving locusts being phase solitaria. However, the effects of P. locustae on locust phase transformation began before direct mortality had caused a substantial reduction in locust density: locust numbers were still high at day 10, but locusts had already transformed to phase transiens. Laboratory assays showed that while a low dose of P. locustae had no effect on phase transformation, at a higher dose of 1×10⁵ spores/mL, locusts had F/C ratios that were significantly (P<0.05) more solitaria than untreated locusts, with locusts having ratios that were either phase solitaria or on the solitaria side of phase transiens. In a second laboratory experiment that analysed the effects of locust density on phase transformation by P. locustae, there was no obvious effect of density on female locusts 10 days later as all were solitaria at all locust densities. At day 16, female locusts were transiens at higher densities, but were solitaria at 4/cage. With males there were lesser effects. These results provide new evidence for P. locustae having sub-lethal effects on locust phase transformation at a wide range of locust densities.     

激光照射对蝗虫诱变杀灭效应的初步研究

为初步研究激光对蝗虫的诱变杀灭效应,将中华剑角蝗成虫、东亚飞蝗成虫和东亚飞蝗幼虫按种群分为照射试验组和对照组,选择采用波长808nm、功率2W的半导体连续单管激光器进行照射试验。分别取距离激光二极管发光面1cm处和2cm处以时间15s、10s、5s和3s进行蝗虫头部眼睛部位和翅膀部位辐照,探索蝗虫不同身体部位对激光的敏感性,比较激光对不同种类和龄期蝗虫的杀灭效应,并对蝗虫的活性进行观察。结果显示:不同强度及辐照时间的激光照射后,蝗虫的活性均有所降低,且照射时间越长、功率密度越大,蝗虫活性下降越显著;随着照射后时间的延长,群体蝗虫的活性降到一个较低的水平;激光对东亚飞蝗的辐照杀灭效应优于中华剑角蝗;蝗蝻较成虫容易被激光灭杀;头部眼睛部位较翅膀部位对激光敏感。     

Adipokinetic hormone content of the corpora cardiaca in gregarious and solitary migratory locusts

Abstract. The adipokinetic hormone (AKH-I and AKH-II) content of the corpora cardiaca from adult males of crowded (gregarious) and isolated (solitary) Locusta migratoria migratorioides (Reiche & Fairmaire) was quantified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.Significantly less total hormone was found in the corpora cardiaca of crowded locusts than in those glands of isolated locusts at the age of 12–19 days after fledging.The ratio of AKH-I/AKH-II was higher in crowded than in isolated locusts at this age.From the age of 12–19 days to that of 25–30 days, AKH content increased significantly in the corpora cardiaca of crowded locusts, but no such increase was found in the glands of isolated locusts, and at 25–30 days there were no significant differences in the AKH content of the glands from crowded and isolated locusts.     

Flight fuel related differences between solitary and gregarious locusts (Locusta migratoria migratorioides)

Abstract. Flight fuel relations of crowded and isolated Locusta migratoria migratorioides were investigated in younger (12–16 days after fledging) and older (27–30 or 27–32 days after fledging) adult males.No phase polymorphism dependent differences were found in resting haemolymph carbohydrate levels of the younger locusts.In the older age group, resting haemolymph carbohydrate levels were slightly though significantly higher in the isolated than in the crowded locusts.Injection of various doses of synthetic adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) did not induce marked changes in haemolymph carbohydrate levels and no differences were found between crowded and isolated locusts.A 30 min flight led to the same decrease in haemolymph carbohydrate levels of isolated and crowded locusts, 43.3% and 44.6% of the resting levels, respectively.We concluded, therefore, that the results do not seem to indicate that isolated locusts rely more heavily on carbohydrates as flight fuel than crowded locusts.Hyperlipaemic responses to flight were less intense in isolated than in crowded locusts, but phase polymorphism dependent differences in flight-induced increase of haemolymph lipid levels were not parallel in 12–16-day-old and 27–32-day-old males.In the younger age group the difference was mainly in the duration of flight needed to induce full response which appeared already after 20 min of flight in the crowded locusts, but only after 45 or 60 min of flight in the isolated ones.In contrast, the older isolated locusts showed markedly lower haemolymph lipid elevations than the crowded locusts even after 30, 45 or 60 min of flight.The hypothesis is forwarded that isolated locusts have a rather coarse adipokinetic strategy focused on a single long-distance migratory flight, whereas gregarious locusts possess a fine adipokinetic balance for reiterative migratory flights and saving fuel reserves for unpredictable long-distance migrations.     

Role of Olfactory and Visual Cues in the Attraction/Repulsion Responses to Conspecifics by Gregarious and Solitarious Desert Locusts

Desert locusts [Schistocerca gregaria Forskål (Orthoptera, Acrididae)] change phase in response to population density: solitarious insects avoid one another, but when crowded they change to the gregarious phase and aggregate. The attraction/repulsion responses of gregarious and solitarious locusts maintain phase differences in locust populations. Despite considerable research, the cues for aggregation are poorly understood; moreover, the repulsion response of solitarious locusts has not previously been investigated. This study analyzes the role of visual and olfactory stimuli in triggering these different responses to conspecifics. Isolation-reared insects were repelled by both olfactory and visual stimuli from other locusts. Crowd-reared insects were attracted by the combination of olfactory and visual cues. In addition, olfactory stimuli affected other behaviors in both phases, and behavioral differences between isolation- and crowd-reared locusts were clear even in the absence of conspecifics. The sensory and neurological mechanisms underlying these responses are not well understood and will form the basis for neurobiological investigations of locust phase.     

Pathological and physiological responses of ring-necked pheasant chicks following dietary exposure to the fungus Metarhizium flavoviride, a biocontrol agent for locusts in Africa

Metarhizium flavoviride, a fungal pathogen of grasshoppers and locusts, appears to be an effective, non-chemical insecticide (mycoinsecticide) for control of grasshoppers and locusts. This study, conducted during June and July, 1997, examined the pathogenic potential of this entomopathogenic fungus to non-target avian species that encounter infected insect prey items or contaminated food sources. Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) chicks were exposed to one of three diets, (spore-coated feed, infected insects, or untreated feed), either from 4 to 9 days of age, or, from 35 to 40 days of age. Necropsies were conducted on birds 10 days and 46 days old, respectively. Neither consumption of infected insects, nor of spore-coated feed, resulted in pathological changes, or significant changes in weight, growth rate, behavior, or mortality rate. Histological examination of organs indicated either no changes related to treatment, or normal tissue responses to antigenic challenge.     

Effects of cell density and temperature on oxygen consumption rate for different mammalian cell lines.

Oxygen consumption rates were measured in a respirometer for different mammalian cell lines (BHK, murine hybridoma, and CHO), and the effects of cell density (1-20 million cells/mL) and temperature (6 to 37 degrees C) on specific oxygen consumption rate were investigated. The specific oxygen consumption was cell line dependent. For a given temperature, the murine hybridoma cells had the lowest and the CHO cells had the highest oxygen consumption rate. The specific oxygen consumption rate was not affected by the cell concentration for cell densities between 1 and 20 million cells/mL. However, artificial trends implicating the effects of cell density were obtained when traditional analysis was used and the probe response time was neglected. A detailed mathematical analysis was presented to investigate the magnitude of errors originating from neglecting the probe response time for the calculation of oxygen consumption rate. The error was significant, especially when the probe response was slow and/or the oxygen consumption was fast. Temperature influenced the specific oxygen consumption rate similarly for the cells studied, and about 10% decrease was observed in specific oxygen consumption by 1 degrees C decrease in the temperature. Between 6 and 37 degrees C, the effect of temperature on oxygen consumption rate could be described using an Arrhenius model, i.e., qO2 = qoO2. e-E/RT. The activation energy, E, in this equation was similar for different cells (between 80 and 90 kJ/mol), indicating the action of a similar mechanism for the effect of temperature on oxygen consumption.     

Influence of acclimation and determination temperature on the oxygen consumption of the brain in two species of anurans

1. 1. The effects of sudden changes by increasing or decreasing the measurement temperature on the oxygen consumption of the brains of Bufo arenarum and Leptodactylus ocellatus were determined.

2. 2. The experiments were carried at in vitro at temperatures which range from 4 to 37°C. The brain was oxygenated and stabilized for 20 min at each of the temperatures to which it was subjected before oxygen consumption measurements were made.

3. 3. A theoretical curve representing the variation of oxygen consumption with temperature was calculated according to the following exponential relationship; for Leptodactylus ocellatus y = 0.408 × 1.07^x and for Bufo arenarum y = 0.389 × 1.065^x.

4. 4. These results were compared with the brain oxygen consumption of animals acclimated to different temperatures, whose oxygen consumption was measured at a fixed temperature. Only Leptodactylus ocellatus had a significantly lower oxygen consumption in a high range of temperatures, indicating thermal compensation, probably to save metabolic reserves.

5. 5. No deterioration of the brain tissue was observed, as several passages from high to low temperatures in the range of 20°–30°C, showed a reversible oxygen consumption in acclimated and non-acclimated Bufo arenarum and Leptodactylus ocellatus.

Impact of clay particles on the cutaneous exchange of oxygen across the chorion of Atlantic salmon eggs

Rates of oxygen consumption for Atlantic salmon Salmo salar embryos approaching hatching were determined. Values were recorded using a 'closed system' experimental set‐up. A magnetic stirrer was used to ensure that zones of oxygen depletion did not develop in the micro‐environment surrounding the respiring eggs. Recorded values of oxygen consumption ranged from 0·0024 to 0·0038 mg O₂ egg⁻¹ h⁻¹, with a mean consumption rate of 0·0032 mg O₂ egg⁻¹ h⁻¹. The values of oxygen consumption were similar to those reported in other studies using a closed system experimental set‐up, however, they were lower than those reported in a study adopting a flow‐through system. The introduction of clay‐sized sediment to the incubation chamber created a thin film (<1 mm) of sediment on the egg surface, and resulted in reduced rates of oxygen consumption. The additional 0·3 g of clay sediment reduced oxygen consumption by an average of 41% and the addition of a further 0·2 g of clay sediment reduced consumption by an average of 98%. Two explanations for the recorded reduction in consumption were proposed: (i) the creation of a low permeability seal around the eggs restricted the availability of oxygen to the incubating embryos and (ii) the clay‐sized fine sediment physically blocked the micro‐pore canals in the egg membrane, thereby restricting oxygen uptake.     

Oxygen partial pressure effects on metabolic rate and behavior of tethered flying locusts

Resting insects are extremely tolerant of hypoxia. However, oxygen requirements increase dramatically during flight. Does the critical atmospheric P (O)(2) (P(c)) increase strongly during flight, or does increased tracheal conductance allow even flying insects to possess large safety margins for oxygen delivery? We tested the effect of P(O)(2) on resting and flying CO(2) emission, as well as on flight behavior and vertical force production in flying locusts, Schistocerca americana. The P(c) for CO(2) emission of resting animals was less than 1 kPa, similar to prior studies. The P(c) for flight bout duration was between 10 and 21 kPa, the P(c) for vertical force production was between 3 and 5 kPa, and the P(c) for CO(2) emission was between 10 and 21 kPa. Our study suggests that the P(c) for steady-state oxygen consumption is between 10 and 21 kPa (much higher than for resting animals), and that tracheal oxygen stores allowed brief flights in 5 and 10 kPa P(O)(2) atmospheres to occur. Thus, P(c) values strongly increased during flight, consistent with the hypothesis that the excess oxygen delivery capacity observed in resting insects is substantially reduced during flight.