The articulation of cricket palps: morphology and movement patterns in behaviour

The morphology of the palp joints in Gryllus bimaculatus DeGeer is described in the context of their use in various behavioural situations. Two patterns of movements are distinguished: the goal‐directed movement of each individual palp, as seen during grooming and food intake actions, and the rhythmic probing movement of the two maxillary palps together during exploratory behaviour and walking. Their details were studied by single frame analysis of video and cine records. The functional characteristics of the maxillary palps with regard to the dimensions of space within which they move in these patterns (‘operational space’) and the potential sensory stimuli they receive (‘reception space’) are compared with those of the antennae and discussed from the viewpoint of division of labour.