Notodontid Moth Research Articles

Hearing in Notodontid Moths: A Tympanic Organ with a Single Auditory Neurone

ABSTRACT Notodontid moths possess paired tympanic organs basically similar to the ears in other noctuoid families, but with a single auditoryA cell. The A cell and the non-auditory B cell were studied anatomically by infusion of C0CI2 and physiologically by recordings from the tympanic nerve. The response of the A cell is determined by intensity parameters and temporal parameters of an ultrasonic stimulus. The notodontid ear is as sensitive as the ears of sympatric noctuids. The directional sensitivity is approximately the same as in noctuids of comparable size (maximal interaural intensity difference of 10–15 dB). The dynamic range of the A cell is about 20–25 dB. Sound levels exceeding the threshold by 30–40dB will saturate the A cells in both ears. Stimuli with different pulse lengths (from 5 to 200 ms, corresponding to pulse repetition rates (PRR) from 100–2·5 Hz), but equal duty cycles (50%) gave a maximum response for pulse lengths lying between 30 and 50 ms. The receptor cell followed the sound pulses in a one-to-one manner even at a PRR of 200 Hz. Notodontid moths seem to show the same ‘bimodal’ evasive behaviour as noctuids. This behaviour can be explained on the basis of intensity parameters, since only low intensity stimuli will give the notodontid directional information. Hence, directional evasive behaviour is expected at low sound pressure levels (SPL), while high SPL (saturating both A cells) should elicit a non-directional evasive behaviour. However, the evasive behaviour could also be explained in terms of time parameters. Hunting bats increase the PRR of their cries when closing in on a prey and the moths may be able to use these time cues for changing their behaviour.

External auditory structures in two species of neotropical notodontid moths

Two species of neotropical moths,Antaea lichyi Franclemont andHapigia curvilinea Schaus (Notodontidae) from Panama possess paired, cup-like extensions of their pleural segments, reminiscent of mammalian pinnae, that project laterally from the perimeter of the tympanic membrane. These cups are homologous with the post-spiracular abdominal hoods of typical noctuid moths, and may be related to the orientation of the notodontid ear, where the tympanic membrane faces ventrally toward the mid-line of the moth's body and potentially reduces the reception of incident sound energy.

Studies onAlenophalera bronneomixia(Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)—a pest of the West African indigo plant,Lonchocarpus cyanescens(Papilionaceae)

Summary This paper is concerned with the general biology of the notodontid moth, A. bronneomixia whose larvae are found to be serious defoliators of the West African indigo plant, Lonchocarpus cyanescens. At temperatures fluctuating between 21°C and 29°C (mean 22·5°C) and humidities between 70 to 95 per cent eggs developed and hatched in a mean of 11·1 days from deposition, mean hatch being 93 per cent. Under the said environmental conditions, the life cycle from egg to adult entailed six larval instars and a prepupal stage before the real pupa, all lasting 60 to 80 days. Larvae were strongly monophagous, fed communally and in nature pupated in soil/litter very close to the foot of their invaded food plant. Adults were retiring and in the field deposited clusters of numerous eggs preferably on the abaxial surfaces of their food plants. In nature, this moth's population seemed strongly regulated by high egg and larval parasitization, larval predation and fungal attacks at the pupal stage.

Conversion of [ 14C]β-Carotene to its 2-hydroxy and 3-hydroxy metabolites by two moth species

1. 1. [ 14C]β-Carotene was fed to last instar larvae of two Notodontid moth species, Cerura vinula L. and Phalera bucephala L. 2. 2. Label was specifically incorporated to 3.8% into β,β-caroten-2-ol by C. vinula and to 65% into β,β-caroten-3-ol (cryptoxanthin) by Ph. bucephala. This is the first direct demonstration of carotenoid metabolism in insects. 3. 3. In Ph. bucephala pupae no sexual difference in the relative amounts of cryptoxanthin could be stated. 4. 4. The capability to transform dietary carotenoids in Lepidoptera is discussed.

OBSERVATIONS ON PODALONIA VIOLACEIPENNIS (LEP.) (SPHECIDAE) AND VESPULA MACULATA (LINN.) (VESPIDAE)

On a visit to lake Winnibigoshish, Minnesota, on August 26, 1932, my attention was attracted by numbers of this wasp engaged in dragging the mature larvae of the Notodontid moth, Symmerista albifrons S. and A. over the sandy surface of the broad beach. The lake shore is about 300 feet wide at that place and composed of several distinct levels. The lower areas nearest the water are covered with low growths of willow and poplar, among which the wasps seemed to prefer to bury the paralysed caterpillars. The latter had developed on the oaks in the forest bordering the lake and several were seen crawling on the sand below the trees, presumably seeking places for pupation. The wasps doubtlessly seized their victims on the ground.