Роль оптомоторной реакции жуков-навознпков — Geotrupes (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae) в естественных условиях

Abstract

The method is suggested to calculate the virtual angular speed of turning from the measurements of turning tendency in tethered insects. For the regular patterns with periods of 15—120° the speed of turning exceeds that of the stimulus up to 80—100°/sec. The real landscape contains a wide band of low spatial frequencies exciting a strong optomotor reaction (OMR). In the models of real landscapes the speed of turning is 2—4 times higher, than that of the stimulus, for stimulus speed 1—30°/sec. Under these conditions the continuous turning could be compensated lo 70—80%. The OMR is most effective during small continuous rotation caused by slight asymmetry of legs or wings. At swift yaws the OMR fails to hinder the turning. During straight-line movement the OMR may be caused by the asymmetrical stimulation of eyes.