The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-03-26
THE BUTreReLYs GAY WINGS. y
The Temperature Largely Responsible
For the Insects Tints.

FOR the IDsects Jints.
The physiology of insects has re.
celved valuable contribution from the
pen of DIR. Won T.. Bachmetjaw, deal
ing with body temperature of these
animals. The fact Is we'll known to
physicists that when two suitable
metals are placed in contact an electric
current is generated. and this current
Is accurately proportional in strength
to the temperature of the two metallic
poles. In his researches the professor
uses steel and manganese: the insect
whose temperature Is to be taken IL
pierced by fine needle Of this compost.
tion. and the strength of the current
induced by the contact of the two
metals inside the insects body was
measured by means of galvanometer,
the changes in strength of the current
Indicating the changes of heat in the
insects body.
The first experiments were made
with the hawk moth. 1t was found
that at temperatures higher than 100
degrees the temperature of the moth
was always lower than that of the air.
the greatest difference being several
degrees when the moth was at ia de.
grees. Above 100 the insect ceased
to fiutter and at 124 1t died. At death
the temperature OF the air and of the
moth were equal, These experiments
were conducted in air of normpi n, oils.
ture, but when the air was supplied
with additional vapor different re.
CtIlf tt.aS n.Ncn,,nI g., A..
had higher temperature than that
OF the air. and its wings did not sink
until n body temperature of 12S vas
reached, the air being 100. This effect
Is probably brought about by the mois.
ture in the air preventing evaporation
OF the insects juices, and so prevent.
Ing cooling. 1t is interesting to note,
In relation to the effect of evaporlza.
tion that hairy insects tend to have
a higher temperature than smooth. and
this fact may be well explained by the
prevention of evaporation from the
former.
Professor Bachmetjaw has also con.
sidered the influence of exercise at
ordinary room temperatures. at height.
ened temperatures and under the appli.
cation of cold. He found that at or.
dinary room temperatures (sixty-five)
the Sphinx moth raised its temperature
by rapid wing vibration up to ninety.
eight degrees. At this point the vibra.
lion ceased, owing to partial paralysis
or the wing muscles; the temperature
then dropped and the paralysis passed
away. On repeating the rapid vibra.
tion Immediately paralysis set In more
rapidly, but not until the temperature
reached ninety-eight; furthermore, il
the surrounding temperature was in.
creased. less humming Is required to
bring on partial paralysis. Just as
there Is maximum temperature which
brings on paralysis, so there is a mini
mum; thus rapid vibration ceased at
slXty-four and all movement stopped
at freezing. Putting these observa.
tions together, we see that normal
flight Is only possible, roughly. between
the temperatures of sixty-five and
ninety-eight degrees.
In dealing with poiliilothermic ami.
mails, that Is to say. animals whose
temperature changes with the sur.
rounding medium. the influence of the
creatures must be considered. Thus
the beautiful brilliancy of the color of
certain Alpine butterflies is explained
ny the following simple experiment
y delicate thermometer had its bulb
covered with dark cloth and was placed
IN the sun. The temperature stood at
elghty-seven. 1t was then backed up
with a sheet of white paper, so as to
initiate butteray's wings. Immedl.
ately the temperature rose to ninety.
slX, Dut as soon as the rejecting paper
was removed the temperature fell
again. In the frlgid regions of the far
North explorers have found beautifully
colored butterflies. These creatures
with outspread wings reflect the radi.
ant energy of the sun to their dusky
bodies, and as storm comes I'D. clcse
their wings and creep into the cover of
the thick grass to conseryate the
warmth stored up in the vital regions.
This same wonderful adaptation OF
nature Is seen, for instance, in the
poppy. The dark centre, where tho
sexual products of its Immortality are
matured, is encircled and kept at the
proper temperature by the abundant
radiation collected and reflected BY
broad open tent OF crimson. which
flashes from its walls the most potent
of the suns rays. Thus the light and
heat necessary for the fulfillment Of
The intricate chemical changes in ripen.
Ing of the plants or insects ova is
provided.