Walking on smooth and rough ground: activity and timing of the claw retractor muscle in the beetlePachnoda marginata peregrina(Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)

Abstract

The activity pattern of the claw retractor muscle of Pachnoda marginata peregrina beetles was examined in this study. We found this muscle to be located in the tibia, without a femoral part, as is the case in other insects. Electromyograms of the muscle revealed a rather similar activity pattern during beetle locomotion on rough and smooth substrates. We recorded units with small and large amplitude, with the smaller unit being active during almost the entire stance phase, and the larger unit active roughly in the first half of stance. Small but significant differences were found in the precise onset and end of activity. Both small and large units began their activity earlier on the rough surface. Although there was no difference at the end of activity in the small unit between surfaces, the large unit ended its activity significantly earlier on the rough substrate. The spike frequencies on both surfaces were also significantly different for small and large units. The small unit showed a higher spike frequency on the smooth surface, while the large unit had a higher spike frequency on the rough surface. From our experiments, we conclude that the muscle is controlled by the same basic activity pattern on different surfaces, with some adjustments that are due to sensory feedback. The adjustments cause differences in onset and end of activity, as well as in spike frequency of the involved muscle units.