Printed in Great Britain © The Company of Biologists Limited I9SS DISCONTINUOUS CO2 EMISSION IN A SMALL INSECT, THE FORMICINE ANT CAMPOXOTUS VICIXUS

Standard rates of oxygen consumption (VO2) and CO2 production (VCO2) were measured by constant-volume respirometry in the formicine ant, Camponotus vicinus Mayr, at temperatures ranging from 10 to 40°C. Over this range, the Q10 with regard to VO2 was 1-79, and with regard to VCO2, 1-84. Multiple regression equations relating VO2 and VCO2 of inactive ants to mass (0016-0088g) and temperature were calculated. Periodic CO2 emissions ('bursts') were monitored with flow-through respirometry. Burst frequency increased exponentially with tempera-ture (QiO = 3-05), from 814h " ' at 15°C to 81-4h~ ' at 35°C, and was not significantly correlated with body mass over the mass range (0041-0086g) investigated. Burst volume, which could be accurately measured in one ant, decreased with temperature (Qio = 0'61). thus yielding the observed Vcc>2 Q10 °f 1-84