spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif Online submission spacer gif
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Stevenson, R.
Right arrow Articles by Le, Q.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Stevenson, R.
Right arrow Articles by Le, Q.

Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 198, Issue 8 1665-1672, Copyright © 1995 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Cage size and flight speed of the tobacco hawkmoth Manduca sexta

R Stevenson, K Corbo, L Baca and Q Le

Flight speeds and behaviors of the sphinx moth Manduca sexta were recorded in chambers of four different sizes (0.57, 8.5, 44 and 447 m3). Mean horizontal speed increased linearly with the cube root of chamber volume from 0.57 m s-1 in the smallest chamber to 3.4 m s-1 in the largest. The maximum horizontal speed observed was 5.3 m s-1 in the largest chamber. Speeds decreased linearly with the logarithm of hawkmoth proximity to the wall. In a tunnel chamber (the third largest), moths often flew in a scalloped-shaped path. At the top of the scallop, they glided for 1­5 wing beats. In the largest chamber, moths could be recorded flying at angles other than horizontal (0 °). At flight angles greater or less than 0 °, mean speed decreased linearly with angle until ±40 °. At greater angles, speeds remained between 1 and 2 m s-1. Moths also flew closer to the wall at flight angles deviating from the horizontal. An allometric analysis of the flight speeds of insects and birds suggests that M. sexta may be able to fly at 7­10 m s-1. We conclude that chamber size limits the flight speed and modifies the flight behavior of the tobacco hawkmoth.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
Y Winter
Flight speed and body mass of nectar-feeding bats (Glossophaginae) during foraging
J. Exp. Biol., January 7, 1999; 202(14): 1917 - 1930.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
C Schilstra and J. Hateren
Blowfly flight and optic flow. I. Thorax kinematics and flight dynamics
J. Exp. Biol., January 6, 1999; 202(11): 1481 - 1490.
[Abstract] [PDF]


© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1995