Regular periods of abdominal contractions recorded from larvae of the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science
2006-04-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Entomology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-200602-0006_Regular_periods_of_abdominal_contractions_recorded_from_larvae_of_the_bumblebee_Bombus_terrestris_Hymenoptera.php |
| Summary: | 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. |
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| ISSN: | 1210-5759 1802-8829 |