Influence of femoral chordotonal organ afferences on ecdysis and on the development of motor programmes in locust larvae

ABSTRACT. The receptor apodemes of the femoral chordotonal organs of hind legs of locust larvae were crossed. This reverses the sign of the chordotonal organ afferences. Animals were operated during the second, third and fourth instars and some could be reared to adults with the receptor apodeme remaining crossed. During walking, the animals did not habituate to the incorrect afference, but those operated at the beginning of the third instar altered their walking programme to some extent. The results from animals operated during the second instar and the first 2 days of the third instar were ambiguous. The jumping generator is not affected by the incorrect afference.