Hearing in larvae of the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, and selected other Leipidoptera.

摘要

Many species of larval Lepidoptera have been observed to respond to sound, but only one species has been thoroughly studied. The present investigation sought to confirm earlier reports that Danaus plexippus L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) larvae responded to sound, and to describe their responses to sound in detail. Preliminary investigations of behavioural responses to sound of six other species of larval Lepidoptera were also conducted for comparative purposes. D. plexippus larvae responded to sound by ceasing movement, retracting their heads, or flicking their bodies dorsally. Danaus plexippus was particularly responsive to low frequency sounds, and further analysis showed that they responded more vigorously to lounder sounds. A pair of filiform sensilla on the prothorax was shown to be primilarily responsible for sound reception. Hearing in D. plexippus may function to detect aerial insect predators or parasitoids, as has been shown in other lepidopterous larvae.