Daily forced flight treatment for butterfly energetics (Animalia)

Knowledge graph centered on Daily forced flight treatment for butterfly energetics (Animalia) with 42 nodes and 138 connections. Top connected: Bombus, Ligusticum porteri, Bombus terrestris, Bombus appositus, Bombus impatiens.

Method synopsis

Daily forced flight protocol involving 3 × 4 minute flight bouts with rest periods, stimulated by gentle brushing, to experimentally increase energy expenditure in butterflies. Control group remains in shaded cages to prevent spontaneous flight.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 1 paper using this protocol.

Procedure as described in the canonical source

Steps below were extracted from the paper that introduces this protocol — Effects of increased flight on the energetics and life history of the butterfly <i>Speyeria mormonia</i> (2015), PLoS One. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Conduct daily flight treatments
   Up to four females at a time were placed in a 30 × 30 × 30 cm cage and stimulated to fly by gently sweeping them with a fine paintbrush. Each butterfly was flown daily for 3 × 4 min with 5 min of rest in between flight bouts. During flight period, kept each individual flying as continuously as possible by sweeping it with the paintbrush when it landed. Cage walls were lined with plastic film to eliminate physical damage and reduce tendency to cling to walls.
   Quantities: 3 × 4 minute flight bouts with 5 minute rests, up to 4 females per sessionDuration: Daily throughout lifespanConditions: 28°C temperature during trials
   Equipment: 30 × 30 × 30 cm cage, fine paintbrush, plastic film lining
2. Conduct control treatment
   During the rest period, shaded the flight cage with black plastic to prevent spontaneous flight for control individuals. Controls remained in their individual cages during treatment periods.
   Quantities: 20 control individualsDuration: Daily during flight treatment periodsConditions: Shaded conditions to prevent spontaneous flight
   Equipment: black plastic covering

Typical Equipment

• 30 × 30 × 30 cm cage
• fine paintbrush
• plastic film lining
• black plastic covering

Output Measurements

• flight activity level
• energy expenditure

Papers Using This Protocol (1)

Species Studied With This Protocol