Automatic measurement and recording of insect flight activity
1977
MICHEL, R. | COLIN, Y. | Rodriguez, M. | RICHARD, J.P.
The use of the system described here makes it possible to measure the flight activity of insects. The basic apparatus is a roundabout actuated by the insect in flight. Twelve roundabouts can be used simultaneously. Each roundabout consists of a vertical frame carrying a rotatable unit between two small conical ball races. The extremely low inertia of this unit part facilitates starting and stopping by the flier. This unit carries a horizontal disc pierced with holes on its circumference, which turns between an infrared emitter and a receptor. Each receptor receives a signal each time a hole passes between it and the emitter. The signals, appropriately treated, are fed into three recorder units. An opto-electronic visualizer provides information on the time elapsed since the beginning of the experiment, the code number of the insect concerned and the number of revolutions of the roundabout. At regular, chosen intervals, a printer automatically prints out this information. A graphical recorder shows the flight activity pattern of each insect during the test and the progress of its flight speed.
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