The influence of the wing sense organs on the flight motor pattern in maturing adult locusts

Abstract

Immediately after destruction of the sense organs in the wings and wing-hinges, the wing-beat frequency of matureLocusta migratoria decreases to 50–60% of the initial value. During the following days the frequency increases again. Similar results were obtained with young adult locusts. The same operation immediately after the last ecdysis does not prevent the appearenee of the normal flight pattern. The increase of the frequency during the first weeks of adult life is about the same in operated and non-operated locusts. Muscle recordings of old and young adults show similar changes of the flight motor pattern after destruction of the wing receptors. The results indicate that the development of the flight motor program is not dependent on wing afferents. The commands of the wing sense organs raise the frequency of the central flight oscillator by the same amount in both young and old adult locusts.