RANDOMNESS IN ONTOGENY - ON ANTENNAL GROOMING IN THE MILKWEEK BUG ONCOPELTUS-FASCIATUS

Milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus, Lygaeidae) groom the distal segme nt of each antenna between the tibial combs of both forelegs. Variable numbers of grooming strokes compose a grooming bout. A total of 112 s pontaneous grooming bouts, comprising all developmental stages, were v ideo-taped, the angular movements of the forelegs were digitized, and the outcomes computer-analyzed. Individual strokes of forelegs were me asured by their angular amplitude and mean angular elevation. These tw o measures are randomly combined in the first instar and then differen tiate during ontogeny into two distinct types: small amplitude strokes of high average elevation and large amplitude strokes of lower averag e elevation. The sequencing of small and large strokes within bouts is largely (97 %) random in all developmental stages. The outcome of the analysis fits the general empirical rule that premature action patter ns are more random than mature ones. Some traits do not follow this ru le and are persistently highly random. It is suggested that excessive randomness in premature behavior is due to genetic underdetermination, and that incorporation of non genetic information helps to specify th e less random mature behavior. Developmentally persistent behavioral r andomness is explained by the behavioral-entropy principle: traits in behavior vary randomly unless randomness is selected against.