Diel rhythms and sex differences in the locomotor activity of hawkmoths.
Circadian patterns of activity are considered ubiquitous and adaptive, and are often invoked as a mechanism for temporal niche partitioning. Yet, comparisons of rhythmic behavior in related animal species are uncommon. This is particularly true of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), in which studies of whole-animal patterns of behavior are far outweighed by examinations of tissue-specific molecular clocks. Here, we used a comparative approach to examine the circadian patterns of flight behavior inManduca sextaandHyles lineata[two distantly related species of hawkmoth (Sphingidae)]. By filming isolated, individual animals, we were able to examine rhythmic locomotor (flight) activity at the species level, as well as at the level of the individual sexes, and in the absence of interference from social interaction. Our results confirmed classic descriptions of strictly nocturnal behavior inM. sextaand demonstrated a dramatically different activity pattern inH. lineataFurthermore, we showed distinct species and sex-specific differences in the maintenance of the endogenous rhythm under conditions of constant darkness. In both species, female activity peaked in advance of males whereas male activity coincided with periods of female sexual receptivity. This suggests a role for circadian patterns of locomotor activity in synchronizing periods of sexual receptivity between the sexes.
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA gtb49@cornell.edu.
Geoffrey T
0000-0001-8156-1309
GT
Broadhead
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
Trisha
T
Basu
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
Martin
M
von Arx
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
Robert A
RA
Raguso
D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003624:Darkness; D005260:Female; D005426:Flight, Animal; D008297:Male; D018402:Manduca / Q000502:physiology*; D009036:Moths / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
Activity; Circadian; Hyles; Manduca; Sex differences