Lynn Fletcher Published in the Journal of Insect Behavior

Abstract

For any arthropod, molting is a risky endeavor; it leaves an organism vulnerable until its new cuticle hardens. In some social organisms, the safest place for an individual to molt may be within their group. Here I present preliminary observations of a potential signaling behavior associated with molting in the gregarious larvae of the Australian sawfly, Perga affinis. Observations of molting activity revealed that larvae were significantly more likely to molt during the day, while residing in tight clusters, than at night when they were dispersed. Additionally, on two occasions I witnessed a vibrational and tactile behavior given by a larva 30 min prior to ecdysis. In each case, this behavior affected the other group members by delaying dispersal for foraging until the molting individual finished ecdysis; this change in the group’s behavior suggests that the molting larva engaged in a form of communication. Potential benefits for a molting signal are discussed.

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