title: The effects of temperature, relative humidity, light, and resource quality on flight initiation in the red flour beetle,Tribolium castaneum.
abstract: We investigated the environmental conditions that induce a flight response in the red flour beetle,Tribolium castaneumHerbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), including resource quality, temperature, relative humidity, and light. Over 72-h trial periods, we observed the proportion of individuals emigrating by flight to range from 0.0 in extreme heat or cold to 0.82 with starvation. Resource quality, presence of a light source, and temperature all directly influenced the initiation of the flight response. We did not detect any effect of relative humidity or sudden change in temperature on the incidence of flight. We discuss our findings in the context ofTriboliumecology and evolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 East Third Street, Bloomington, 47405 IN, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Drury
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 East Third Street, Bloomington, 47405 IN, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Whitesell
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 East Third Street, Bloomington, 47405 IN, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wade
keywords: Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae; behavioural response; dispersal; environmental cues; metapopulation; migration