Locomotor activity, sexual behaviour, and the corpus allatum hormone in males of Locusta

Abstract

An actograph was used to record daily levels of locomotor activity shown by individual male locusts taken from groups of allatectomized and sham-operated locusts during a period of 24 days after the operation. The recordings show that the general level of locomotor activity in male locusts is not diminished following allatectomy: in fact; the allatectomized locusts show a considerable degree of movement associated with sexual behaviour. The possibility that the hypertrophy of the fat body, which follows the removal of the corpora allata, is due to lethargy is considered to be unlikely. The relationships between the various events characterizing sexual maturation in the male locust are discussed—in particular the significance of the reduction in feeding activity and the breakdown of the fat body in the mature male.