Effects of Immobilization and Damage on Silk Repair in the Mexican Jumping Bean Moth Larvae (Cydia saltitans)

Authors: Kalina Palas, Lindsey Swierk, Meharin Nusrath, Doris Tung

SUNY Campus: Binghamton University

Presentation Type: Oral

Location: UUW 324

Presentation #: 3

Timeslot: Session D 3:00-4:00 PM

Abstract: Injury-induced stress responses are critical for survival, especially in organisms relying on protective external architecture like the larvae of Cydia saltitans, known commonly as “Mexican jumping beans”. These larvae use silk production and movement to mitigate environmental stress, such as extreme heat and damage. This study investigates the energy allocations of Cydia saltitans when there are no competing behaviors and only damage to their external architecture. It’s hypothesized that a combination of prolonged immobilization and large seed and larvae size of Cydia saltitans will result in significant decrease in time to repair structural damage to their protective shells. The experiment was set up by splitting a group of 80 seeds into two groups, stationary or free movement. Each group sustained an equivalent sized hole to their shell and the time to produce the first layer of silk over the hole was recorded. The results were calculated using 2-tailed ANOVA analysis and linear regression model. Contrary to expectations, stationary seed complexes had significantly longer repair times compared to free-moving ones, suggesting that restricted mobility imposes constraints on resource allocation and repair behavior. Interestingly, larval mass and seed length showed no significant relationship with repair times, indicating that factors beyond physical size, such as metabolic efficiency or behavioral traits, may play a larger role. Future research should explore the mechanisms underlying larval movement and energy allocation, as well as external factors influencing repair efficiency, to further clarify the adaptive strategies of C. saltitans.