PHYSIOLOGY OF INSECT ECDYSIS

Abstract

1. In the giant silkmoths, adult eclosion is immediately preceded by a stereotyped series of abdominal movements - the pre-eclosion behaviour. The pattern of movements is species-specific and has a duration of about 1 ¼ h. 2. The pre-eclosion behaviour is followed sequentially by eclosion, the release of the labial gland secretion, the post-eclosion activity, and the spreading of the wings. These five elements of behaviour make up the emergence sequence. 3. The progression from one part of the behavioural sequence to the next is independent of stimuli provided by the pupal cuticle or cocoon, and therefore must be due to an internal programme. Thus, when the pupal cuticle was removed from pharate moths 12 h before their normal eclosion time, these ‘peeled’ animals continued to behave in a pupal fashion. But upon the arrival of the eclosion gate, the entire emergence sequence was displayed. 4. Through surgical manipulations the brain was shown to trigger the pre-eclosion behaviour. Moreover, this action of the brain was mediated by a neurosecretory hormone - the eclosion hormone. 5. Injections of extracts with eclosion-hormone activity triggered the precocious display of the emergence sequence by pharate moths. 6. When the eclosion hormone was injected into the isolated abdomens of pharate moths, these fragments performed the pre-eclosion behaviour and then shed the surrounding piece of pupal cuticle. The information for the pre-eclosion behaviour and for the abdominal movements associated with eclosion must therefore be programmed in the abdominal ganglia. Moreover, after its ‘activation’ the abdomen can switch from one behaviour pattern to the next without influence from the higher centres.