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Journal of Experimental Biology 127,313-332 (1987)
Published by Company of Biologists 1987

Thermoregulation by Winter-Flying Endothermic Moths

BERND HEINRICH ¹

¹ Department of Zoology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA

Noctuid moths of the subfamily Cuculiinae fly in any month of the winter in the north-eastern United States when air temperatures are at least 0°C. At lower temperatures they hide under leaf litter rather than perching on trees like many summer-flying noctuid moths. Like moths of similar mass and wing-loading that fly in the summer or that reside in tropical regions, the nocturnal cuculinids fly with a thoracic temperature of 30-35°C. The generation and maintenance of such high thoracic temperatures at low air temperatures depends on (1) the ability to begin shivering at very low muscle temperatures, (2) a thick insulating pile, and (3) counter-current heat exchangers that retard heat flow to the head and to the abdomen, respectively.

Key words: moths, thermoregulation, blood circulation, shivering

Accepted on July 15, 1986

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