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Journal of Experimental Biology 138,181-193 (1988)
Published by Company of Biologists 1988

Behavioural Thermoregulation in the Freeze-Tolerant Arctic Caterpillar, Gynaephora Groenlandica

OLGA KUKAL ¹, BERND HEINRICH ², and JOHN G. DUMAN ¹

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
² Department of Zoology, University of Vermont Burlington, VT 054051, USA

Larvae of the high arctic caterpillar, Gynaephora groenlandica (Wöcke) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) spent most (60 %) of their time orienting towards the sun (i.e. basking) and only 20% feeding, primarily near midday. Larvae usually basked after feeding, then either fed again or moved to a new feeding site. Basking larvae reached their highest body temperatures (T_b) of 30°C (20°C in excess of the ambient temperature) when surrounded by snow on a calm day in the midday sun. Setae significantly decreased larval cooling rates. Maximal metabolic rates were attained in basking larvae, but at body temperatures below 10°C oxygen uptake was greatly reduced. Our studies indicate that G. groenlandica larvae are behaviourally adapted to utilize available solar radiation for growth and development.

Key words: behavioural thermoregulation, arctic, Gynaephora groenlandica

Accepted on March 24, 1988

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