Regular periods of abdominal contractions recorded from larvae of the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

Abstract. Using an opto-cardiograph combined with an infrared gas analyzer regular bouts of abdominal contractions were recorded from last instar larva of Bombus terrestris. The rate of CO2 release was about 0.7 ml g -1 h -1 . The bouts of contractions were of two types: weak extracardiac pulsations and vigorous pumping. The frequencies of pulsations and pumping were 25-35 per min and 8-12 per min, respectively. Bouts of extracardiac pulsations and abdominal pumping were independent of each other and sometimes overlapped. Cardiac contractions (heartbeats) were continuous (57-63 pulses/min). This study suggests that the periodically occurring abdominal contractions play an essential role in respiration and/or in haemolymph circulation in larvae of B. terrestris.

Effects of Fastac 50 EC on bumble bee Bombus terrestris L. respiration: DGE disappearance does not lead to increasing water loss

“…These include environmental conditions (Kestler, 1971;Dingha et al, 2005;Terblanche et al, 2008;Karise et al, 2010), metabolic rate (Kestler, 1991;Sibul et al, 2004;Jõgar et al, 2006), the life stage of the insect (Beekman and van Stratum, 1999;Mänd et al, 2005Mänd et al, , 2006 and several stress factors (Kestler, 1991;Lighton and Lovegrove, 1990;Kovac et al, 2007). Normally bumble bees show DGE cycles as a sign of calming down or resting.…”

“…The IRGA was calibrated at different flow rates using calibration gases (Trägergase, VEB, Junkalor, Dessau) with gas injection (Kuusik et al, 2002;Martin et al, 2004;Mänd et al, 2005Mänd et al, , 2006, air flow rate was 120 ml min À1 . Before the air entered into the insect chamber, the CO 2 and H 2 O were removed from the system by DRIERITE and a molecular sieve.…”

“…Combining LI-7000 with infrared-actography allowed us to determine the reasons for continuous respiratory pattern and discover the active ventilation during O-phases. The IR-actograph has also been used as an insect IR cardiograph or optocardiograph (Hetz et al, 1994(Hetz et al, , 1999Mänd et al, 2006;Karise et al, 2010). Two IR-emitting diodes (TSA6203) were placed on one side (ventral side of the insect abdomen) and two sensor diodes (BP104) were placed on the opposite side of the insect chamber.…”

Predation promotes survival of beetles with lower resting metabolic rates

“…The gas analyser and flow‐through respirometer were calibrated at different flow rates by means of calibration gases (Trägergase; Saxon Junkalor, Dessau, Germany) with gas injection (see also Kuusik et al., ; Mänd et al., ). When the respirometry was carried out in dry air, the insect chamber (3 ml Eppendorf test tube) was perfused with dry (5–7% r.h.) CO 2 ‐free air, produced by passing air over Drierite (WA Hammond Drierite, Xenia, OH, USA) and soda‐lime granules at a flow rate of 60 ml min −1 .…”

Fluctuations in oxygen influence facultative endothermy in bumblebees

“…Abdominal pumping has been implicated in altering hemolymph flow (Mänd et al, 2006), as well as in the regulation of thorax and abdominal temperatures in bumblebees. Under conditions of artificial heating (i.e.…”