Flight performance of some nitidulid beetles (Coleoptera) using a computer-monitored flight mill

Computer-monitored flight mills were used to record the flight performance of five species of nitidulids: Stelidota geminata (Say), S. Octomaculata (S ay), S. ferruginea. (Reitter), Carpophilus hemipterus (L.), and C. Lugubris Murray. Both Carpophilus species flew extensively, whereas the Stelidota s pecies' flight was insufficient for analysis, and S. octomaculata never fle w. Comparisons between the two Carpophilus species and between the sexes of these species were made based on five measures of flight performance: the number of flight bouts, laps per bout, average time per bout, time spent fl ying per bout, and average speed. Although there were small but significant differences documented between both sex and species for laps per bout, tim e spent flying and average time per bout, the most significant differences were the number of flight bouts and time of day that the beetles were flown . The computer monitored flight mill used in this study was the same as tha t of Taylor et al. (1992). Minor modifications were made to accommodate the se small beetles, some of which were stronger fliers than the leafhoppers p reviously investigated. A revised circuit diagram is included.