Nachweis der Selbst-Erregung der circadianen Periodizität bei Carabiden (Coleoptera Ins.)

Summary Most of the active individuals ofCarabus cancellatus (Coleoptera) investigated were synchronized by zeitgeber-lengths of 8/8 10/10 or 16/16 h. On the other hand, a smaller number of beetles lost the periodicities of these Zeitgebers and showed a circadian activity rhythm. According to these experiments, the existence of a self-sustained circadian oscillation in carabid beetles is demonstrated. As we believe, a special numerical method of computing the length of activity periodicities was used for the first time.