Post‐feed buzzing in the tsetse, Glossina morsitans morsitans, is an endothermic mechanism

Abstract

Post-feed buzzing in Glossina morsitans morsitans Westw. causes a rise in thoracic temperature relative to the length of the buzz. As lift is proportional to the square of wing-beat frequency, which increases with temperature up to 32"C, buzzing results in an increase in the lift which the fly can produce. Heat generated by buzzing, in combination with the heat received from the host at the time of feeding, may well allow the fly to maximize lift generated in the immediate post-feeding period. Buzzing flies excrete excess water from the meal more rapidly than non-buzzing flies. It is argued that this is due to a rise in abdominal temperature. Maximized lift in the immediate post-feeding period and the rapid elimination of water from the very large blood meals taken by these flies may be expected to have strong selective advantages for the flies.

Post‐feeding bubbling behaviour in fluid‐feeding Diptera: concentration of crop contents by oral evaporation of excess water

“…Blood-feeding tsetse flies maintain their spiracles open after large blood meals, allowing an increased rate of water transpiration (Gee, 1975;Lester & Lloyd, 1928;Moloo & Kutuza, 1970). In addition, through buzzing (beating of wings), tsetse flies produce heat by endothermy, thereby accelerating the rate of shedding excess water from the blood meal through the spiracles and through diuresis (Howe & Lehane, 1986). Only in ixodid ticks has a mechanism been demonstrated (Gregson, 1957) that is somewhat analogous to that found here: after passing water from a blood meal into the haemolymph, ixodid salivary glands remove the water from the haemolymph and return it orally to the host.…”

The Hot-Blooded Insects

“…This "post-feed buzz" has been much remarked upon in the literature, and before its thermoregulatory significance was known the conclusion had been made in at least 8 publications that the buzz is used in intraspecific communication (Howe and Lelane, 1986). This "post-feed buzz" has been much remarked upon in the literature, and before its thermoregulatory significance was known the conclusion had been made in at least 8 publications that the buzz is used in intraspecific communication (Howe and Lelane, 1986).…”

Why do Insects Bite? A review of blood sucking behaviour

“…Such a meal seriously impairs the insect's manoeuvrability and reduces flight speed, which is also affected by the cool ambient temperatures occurring at dawn and dusk when many species of both mosquitoes and tsetse flies normally feed. To compensate, the fed tsetse fly generates heat endogenously by 'buzzing' with its wings, raising the thoracic temperature and enabling it to maximise its lift and flight speed (3). In tsetse flies for mostly encounter host-derived stimuli in a particular sequence.…”