A Guide for Using Flight Simulators to Study the Sensory Basis of Long-Distance Migration in Insects

Studying the routes flown by long-distance migratory insects comes with obvious challenge that animal’s body size and weight is comparably low. This makes it difficult to attach relatively heavy transmitters these in order monitor their (as has been done for instance several species of birds. However, rather delicate anatomy can be advantageous testing capacity orient respect putative compass cues during indoor experiments under controlled conditions. Almost 20 years ago, Barrie Frost Henrik Mouritsen developed a flight simulator which enabled them heading directions tethered Monarch butterflies, both indoors outdoors. The design described original paper used many follow-up studies describe orientation capacities mainly diurnal lepidopteran species. Here we present modification this enables nocturnal migration moths while allowing magnetic, visual mechanosensory stimulation. modified so far successfully study sensory basis two European one Australian noctuid