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First published online December 14, 2006
Journal of Experimental Biology 210, 37-45 (2007)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2007
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02616
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Flower tracking in hawkmoths: behavior and energetics

Jordanna D. H. Sprayberry1,* and Thomas L. Daniel2

1 Arizona Research Laboratories, Division of Neurobiology, University of Arizona, Gould-Simpson Building Room 611, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
2 Arizona Research Laboratories, Division of Neurobiology, University of Washington, 98195, USA

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: jspray{at}neurobio.arizona.edu)

Accepted 24 October 2006

As hovering feeders, hawkmoths cope with flower motions by tracking those motions to maintain contact with the nectary. This study examined the tracking, feeding and energetic performance of Manduca sexta feeding from flowers moving at varied frequencies and in different directions. In general we found that tracking performance decreased as frequency increased; M. sexta tracked flowers moving at 1 Hz best. While feeding rates were highest for stationary flowers, they remained relatively constant for all tested frequencies of flower motion. Calculations of net energy gain showed that energy expenditure to track flowers is minimal compared to energy intake; therefore, patterns of net energy gain mimicked patterns of feeding rate. The direction effects of flower motion were greater than the frequency effects. While M. sexta appeared equally capable of tracking flowers moving in the horizontal and vertical motion axes, they demonstrated poor ability to track flowers moving in the looming axis. Additionally, both feeding rates and net energy gain were lower for looming axis flower motions.

Key words: hawkmoth, flower tracking, feeding rate


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