Individual tracking reveals long-distance flight-path control in a nocturnally migrating moth.
Science
; 377(6607): 764-768, 2022 08 12.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35951704
ABSTRACT
Each year, trillions of insects make long-range seasonal migrations. These movements are relatively well understood at a population level, but how individual insects achieve them remains elusive. Behavioral responses to conditions en route are little studied, primarily owing to the challenges of tracking individual insects. Using a light aircraft and individual radio tracking, we show that nocturnally migrating death's-head hawkmoths maintain control of their flight trajectories over long distances. The moths did not just fly with favorable tailwinds; during a given night, they also adjusted for head and crosswinds to precisely hold course. This behavior indicates that the moths use a sophisticated internal compass to maintain seasonally beneficial migratory trajectories independent of wind conditions, illuminating how insects traverse long distances to take advantage of seasonal resources.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Animal Migration
/
Flight, Animal
/
Moths
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Science
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Germany
Country of publication:
EEUU
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMERICA
/
EUA
/
UNITED STATES
/
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
/
US
/
USA