Automated Barometric Chamber for Entomology Experiments: Arthropods’ Behavior and Insect-Plant Interactions

Abstract

Insect behaviors, such as flying, oviposition, parasitism, mating/calling, response to semiochemicals, and others, might be influenced by barometric pressure fluctuations. Abiotic factors controlled in the laboratory facilitate the observation of particularities related to development, behavior, and/or habits of arthropods and plants and their interactions. This study aimed to design an automated barometric chamber for research on arthropod behaviors and insect–plant interactions in the laboratory. The barometric chamber is a transparent box equipped with a single-board computer. An air pump and two proportional solenoid valves were used as actuators to control the air flow, while barometric pressure, air humidity, and temperature sensors were used to monitor the conditions within the chamber. A graphical user interface to operate the barometric chamber was developed to run in a web browser. The barometric chamber was designed to allow the barometric pressure to be changed by up to 15 hPa with respect to the local barometric pressure. In addition, the control system makes it possible to set the rise/fall time (ramp) corresponding to the duration in which a change of pressure will be conditioned. Short- and long-term evaluations demonstrated that the control system can assure pressure stability of ±0.1 hPa with respect to the setpoint value. For demonstration purposes, two experiments were carried out to evaluate the influence of barometric pressure on the feeding activity of Euschistus heros and Diabrotica speciosa. For E. heros, the number of stylet sheath was significantly increased under high pressure conditions compared to the low pressure. However, for D. speciosa, there was no statistical difference in leaf consumption at the evaluated testing conditions.

Weathering the hunt: The role of barometric pressure in predator insects' foraging behaviour

“…Fluctuations in barometric pressure of −8 mbar reflect atmospheric instability, typically accompanied by the formation of clouds, stronger winds and intense rainfall. Conversely, an increase of +8 mbar indicates stable weather conditions (Costa et al, 2022 ).…”

“…The average and maximum annual variation of barometric pressure in Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, were determined using data from the meteorological station ‘Professor Jesus Marden dos Santos’ at the University of São Paulo. The experiments were conducted in an acrylic barometric chamber (40 × 90 × 70 cm) equipped with an automated pressure control system, as designed by Costa et al ( 2022 ) (Figure 2 ). A vacuum‐pressure pump was utilized to regulate the pressure within the chamber.…”

“…Animals, including insects, respond to changes in atmospheric pressure by modulating their behaviour (Crespo & Castelo, 2012 ). Increasing atmospheric pressure can enhance mating (Pellegrino et al, 2013 ), learning (Dagaeff et al, 2016 ), flight (Fournier et al, 2005 ) and feeding behaviours (Costa et al, 2022 ). Conversely, a decrease in atmospheric pressure can lead to a reduction in activity due to unsettled weather and increased mortality risk (Jones et al, 2018 ).…”

“…Conversely, a decrease in atmospheric pressure can lead to a reduction in activity due to unsettled weather and increased mortality risk (Jones et al, 2018 ). Research has shown that various insect orders, such as Diptera, Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Thysanoptera, Hemiptera and Hymenoptera, exhibit changes in behaviour due to atmospheric pressure variations (Austin et al, 2014 ; Costa et al, 2022 ; Dagaeff et al, 2016 ; Fournier et al, 2005 ; Jones et al, 2018 ; Lanier & Burns, 1978 ; McFarlane et al, 2015 ; Musiolek & Kočárek, 2016 ; Zagvazdina et al, 2015 ). For example, the Asian citrus psyllid ( Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) can increase its dispersal capacity when atmospheric pressure increases by 4.57 mbar/h but decrease it when the pressure drops by 5.47 mbar/h (Martini & Stelinski, 2017 ).…”