Meeting Abstract

3.3  Monday, Jan. 4  Effects of loss of proprioceptive inputs on flight motor outputs of the moth, Manduca sexta L. WILLIS, M.A.*; WERNEIWSKI, M.; AVONDET, J.L.; Case Western Reserve University; Case Western Reserve University; Case Western Reserve University maw27@case.edu

Information from local feedback sensors is known to have profound effects on the flight motor patterns of tethered flying insects, and has been shown to effect maneuvering in freely flying insects. Much of what we know in this area is from studies of the locust, whose front and hind wing pairs are coordinated, but move independently each other. Little is known about the role of local sensory feedback on flight in the Lepidoptera, whose front and hind wings are linked and appear to function as one. We previously showed that freely flying male moths, Manduca sexta, which had a local feedback sensor known as the tegulae removed from all four wings, showed specific deficits in flight free flight performance. Moreover, the effects of these deficits were mitigated in a context-dependent way. Male moths without their tegulae flew better in female pheromone then in clean air. To understand the mechanisms underlying the observed decrease in free-flight performance, we recorded from the wing elevator and depressor muscles from M. sexta males in tethered flight preparations, both before and after tegula removal. After the tegulae were removed the wing beat frequency decreased and the activity of the wing elevator muscles became less regular, both with respect to each other and the wing depressor muscles. Supported by AFOSR #FA9550-07-1-0149.