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Journal of Experimental Biology 94,119-135 (1981)
Published by Company of Biologists 1981

Physiology and Energetics of Pre-Flight Warm-Up in the Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth Malacosoma Americanum

CASEY TIMOTHY M. ¹, JERI R. HEGEL ¹, and CHARLENE S. BUSER ²

¹ Coordinated Department of Physiology, Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903
² Coordinated Department of Physiology, Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903; Department of Zoology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington

Thoracic temperature (T_th) during pre-flight warm-up increased linearly with time at all air temperatures (T_a). The rate of pre-flight warm-up increased from 3.3 to 12.7 °C/min between T_a's of 14 and 28 °C. Head temperature remained within a few °C of T_th during warm-up, while ventral abdominal temperature remained within a few °C of T_a. Pulsation rate of the dorsal vessel in the thorax increased directly with thoracic temperature. Wing-stroke frequency (n) varied from 15 s^-1 T_th = 16 °C to 58 s^-1 at T_th = 40 °C and was similar at any given T_th between T_a's of 14 and 28 °C. While stroke amplitude varied significantly between warm-up and tethered flight, stroke frequency was similar for the two activities in the same T_th range. Calculated rates of heat production were tightly coupled to T_th and did not vary with T_a. The change in heat production during warm-up was dependent entirely on changes in frequency of muscle contraction. Stroke work was constant at 0.68 mW between T_th of 15 and 40 °C.