Group effects on feeding in adult males of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forsk.), in relation to sexual maturation.

Extract

It has previously been shown that the sexual maturation of males of Scliistocerca grcgaria (Forsk.) is accelerated by crowding with other individuals of similar or greater age, and that the maturation of males kept in single pairs with older mature males is accelerated as compared with that of isolated males or males kept in single pairs with other young males or females of their own age. The effects of these groupings on the levels of feeding and excretion are investigated in the present work.

Crowded males ate and excreted more than isolated ones during the first ten days of adult life. Five males in a 9-litre cage are sufficient to induce almost the full effect of crowding, and marked effects are shown when only two males are present in such a cage.

After the second or third week, the level of feeding declines. This occurs earlier in early-maturing individuals, so that for a short period the crowded males eat little more or even less than the isolated ones. When the isolated males in their turn become mature their feeding again falls slightly below that of the crowded ones. When all males are isolated, there is a significant tendency for those males which eat least from the beginning of adult life and which increase their weight least to become mature earliest.

The proportion of the food utilised was not affected by density. It was higher during the early period of maximum consumption than it was after the level of feeding declined.