operative temperature (Silphidae)

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Method synopsis

Method for measuring thoracic and abdominal temperatures of flying insects before, during, and after controlled flight using hypodermic temperature probes and digital thermometers. Beetles placed on angled stick to initiate flight, with temperatures measured within seconds of landing.

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 — Temperature regulation in burying beetles (<i>Nicrophorus</i> spp.: Coleoptera: Silphidae): effects of body size, morphology and environmental temperature (2004), The Journal of Experimental Biology. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Body temperature measurement during flight trials
   For each flight trial, a beetle was randomly selected from holding container and thoracic and abdominal temperatures measured using 29-gauge hypodermic temperature probe (Model HYPO-33-1-T-G-60-SMP-M) and digital microprocessor thermometer (Model HH23). Abdominal temperatures taken by inserting probe between two abdominal sclerites, thoracic temperatures by inserting probe into ventral metathorax.
   Quantities: Flight trials conducted on 137 beetles; measurements taken before, during and after flightDuration: Each flight trial lasted 2-4 seconds; measurements taken within 2-3 seconds after landingConditions: Flights conducted in absence of direct sunlight, sheltered from wind
   Equipment: 29-gauge hypodermic temperature probe (Model HYPO-33-1-T-G-60-SMP-M), digital microprocessor thermometer (Omega Model HH23)
2. Controlled flight protocol
   After measuring temperatures, beetle was placed on middle of a stick (8-10 cm diameter, 0.5 m length) secured at 45° angle. Beetle would walk to end of stick and make preparations to fly. After take-off and flights of 2-4 s duration, thoracic and abdominal temperatures were measured again while handling the beetles.
   Quantities: Stick dimensions: 8-10 cm diameter, 0.5 m length; flight duration 2-4 secondsDuration: 2-4 second flights; temperature measurements within 2-3 seconds of landingConditions: Flights in shade, no direct sunlight, sheltered from wind
   wooden stick (8-10 cm diameter, 0.5 m length)

Typical Equipment

• 29-gauge hypodermic temperature probe (Model HYPO-33-1-T-G-60-SMP-M)
• digital microprocessor thermometer (Omega Model HH23)
• wooden stick (8-10 cm diameter, 0.5 m length)

Output Measurements

• thoracic temperature
• abdominal temperature
• temperature excess

Papers Using This Protocol (1)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used