THE WIND-EVOKED ESCAPE BEHAVIOR OF THE CRICKET GRYLLUS-BIMACULATUS - INTEGRATION OF BEHAVIORAL ELEMENTS

The wind-evoked escape behavior of freely ranging crickets (Gryllus bi maculatus) was studied using high-speed video and him analysis, The es cape response can be of three types: a turn, a jump or a turn + jump. Any of these can be followed by running. The turn is similar to that o f the cockroach, in terms of the details of body and leg movements. A jump occurs only when the cricket has its back to the wind, either bec ause the stimulus came approximately from behind or because the cricke t had first turned away from the wind and then jumped. The jump, like that of locust, requires some form of energy storage and quick release to obtain the necessary power. Locusts use long-term to-activation of antagonistic leg motor neurons to produce mechanical energy storage, By contrast, crickets do not appear to co-activate antagonistic leg mo tor neurons. Possible alternative energy storage and release mechanism s are discussed.