An ultrastructural study of tettigoniid muscle in relation to function

Abstract

The modian dorsal longitudinal indirect flight muscles from the mesothorax and metathorax of Homorocoryphus nitidulus vicinus have been studied to determine whether structural differences might offer an explanation for reports that the mesothoracic musculature effects a wing-beat rate of 140 beats/sec during stridulation, whereas during flight, it, like that of the metathorax, effects wing-beat frequencies of 14 to 20 beats/sec. No differences were observed and it is concluded that the high wing-beat rate, reported during stridulation, is not reflected in any specific modification of mesothoracic muscle fine structure. In addition, the fine structure of these muscles has been examined in order to determine changes associated with ageing; particular attention has been paid to variations in the chondriome.