Author: Sláma, Karel

Source: Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Volume 92, Number 6, November 1999 , pp. 916-929(14)

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

Abstract:

Neurohormonal regulation of insect breathing has been studied in the pupae of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera and in the adults of Hymenoptera. The measurements were obtained by a combination of several electronic methods (barographic, anemometric, respirographic, gravimetric, thermographic, infra-red radiation). It has been found that (in contrast to general theories that claim that insect respiration is based on passive physical diffusion) insects can actively breathe through individual spiracles. A lepidopteran pupa, for instance, is able to inspire simultaneously through both the contralateral spiracles of a given segment, but it can also use only 1 of them or, eventually, it can exhibit a concert of perfectly coordinated spiracular functions across different segments as well as across different sides of the body. This type of active breathing is regulated by the autonomic nervous system (coelopulse) by means of periodically repeated extracardiac pulsations in hemocoelic pressure. The valves of the selected spiracles pulsate in synchrony with the frequency of extracardiac pulsations, which produce a unidirectional ventilatory stream of air. Active, neurohormonal regulation has been also determined for the release of CO₂ from internal carbonate buffers. The pupae of Galleria mellonella (L.), for instance, actively produce gaseous CO₂ only in special, newly identified organs, from which the concentrated CO₂ is rapidly expelled through just 1 or a few selected spiracles. The discontinuous ventilation cycles are usually very simple. The prolonged constriction of spiracles after the CO₂ burst occurs only in certain lepidopteran pupae, whereas the mysterious “fluttering” phase does not exist at all. A possibility that insects favor active regulation of breathing to minimize respiratory water loss and avoid respiratory acidaemia is discussed.

Keywords: insect breathing; inspirations; CO2 elimination; respiratory acidaemia; CO2 releasing organs; aeriferous tracheae

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 1999-11-01

More about this publication?

• Annals of the Entomological Society of America is published in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Annals especially invites submission of manuscripts that integrate different areas of insect biology, and address issues that are likely to be of broad relevance to entomologists. Articles also report on basic aspects of the biology of arthropods, divided into categories by subject matter: systematics; ecology and population biology; arthropod biology; arthropods in relation to plant diseases; conservation biology and biodiversity; physiology, biochemistry, and toxicology; morphology, histology, and fine structure; genetics; and behavior.
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