Eur. J. Entomol. 103 (2): 319-322, 2006 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2006.041

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

Marika MÄND1, Aare KUUSIK1, Ants-Johannes MARTIN1, Ingrid H. WILLIAMS2, Anne LUIK1, Reet KARISE1, Luule METSPALU1, Külli HIIESAAR1
1 Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 64, EE-51014 Tartu, Estonia; e-mail: marika.mand@ut.ee
2 Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK; e-mail: ingrid.williams@bbsrc.ac.uk

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.

Keywords: Bombus terrestris, larvae, active ventilation, extracardiac pulsations, heartbeat, respiratory responses

Received: June 8, 2005; Revised: November 8, 2005; Accepted: November 8, 2005; Published: April 6, 2006  Show citation

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MÄND, M., KUUSIK, A., MARTIN, A., WILLIAMS, I.H., LUIK, A., KARISE, R., METSPALU, L., & HIIESAAR, K. (2006). Regular periods of abdominal contractions recorded from larvae of the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae). EJE, 103(2), 319-322. doi: 10.14411/eje.2006.041
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