INSECT FLIGHT BEHAVIOR IN A NATURAL-ENVIRONMENT .7. TAKE-OFF AND FLIGHT BEHAVIOR OF THE TIGER-BEETLE SPECIES CICINDERA-HYBRIDA IN A HOT ENVIRONMENT (COLEOPTERA, CICINDELIDAE)

Take-off and flight behaviour of Cicindela hybrida Linnaeus 1758, livi ng on a small sandy spot was recorded during a very hot period of mid august. Timing of take-off to flight sequence ducking, jumping, elytra opening, first wing-beat - is described. This sequence is stereotype and very fast, lasting only 0.12 s, even when taking off after copulat ion. Distance-, velocity- and acce-leration-time-functions are given a nd compared to the start - to - run sequence. The flightpath angle at take-off is usually around 40 degrees. Mean speed and maximum accelera tion are around 0.6 m s(-1) and 7 m s(-2) for flight and approximately 1/4 of this value for running. A take-off jump is carried out with ma inly the pedes-II. By the time the end of a jump has been reached the P-I are stretched out to support the outspread elytra in a slightly po sitive V-position and a moment later they are aided by the P-II. Wing- beat frequency at take-off averages 100 Hz during the hottest time of day (13.00 hours, S-Tp T-s less than or equal to 50 degrees C) and 70 s(-1) in the evening when, normally, they no longer take-off (20..30 h r, T-s approximate to 24 degrees C). Flight lasts only a few seconds, maximum flight speed is greater than or equal to 3 m s(-1), maximum fl ight height and length is generally 50 cm and 5 m. The elytra, which d o not beat, are held almost horizontally, still supported by the pedes -I and -II. Distal parts of the P-II are stretched forward obliquely, P-III are stretched backward, the tarsi touching each other. Wing-beat frequency (under hot environmental conditions) is around 100 Hz and a mplitude between 150 - 180 degrees, or slightly more. At the upper tur ning region the wing tips often touch each other, executing near clap and fling, but they do not touch at the lower turning point. A phase s hift between coupled beating and rotational oscillations is clearly vi sible.