BEHAVIORAL THERMOREGULATION IN THE MOPANE WORM (LEPIDOPTERA)

1. In the wild Imbrasia belina larvae are unlikely to encounter temper atures low enough to inhibit activity (c8 degrees C) but operative tem peratures approaching upper critical (c43-48 degrees C) are common. 2. We found no evidence for physiological elevation of body temperature in this species in the laboratory. 3. Based on observations of behavio ur in the field and laboratory we suggest that there is little opportu nity, need or evidence for the behavioural elevation of body temperatu re in I. belina larvae but note that hanging with the head and thorax separated from the substrate is a response to dangerously high body te mperature. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.