scholarly journals Concurrent modulation of neuronal and behavioural olfactory responses to sex and host plant cues in a male moth

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1799) ◽  
pp. 20141884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie H. Kromann ◽  
Ahmed M. Saveer ◽  
Muhammad Binyameen ◽  
Marie Bengtsson ◽  
Göran Birgersson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Olfactory System ◽  
Plant Volatiles ◽  
Physiological Condition ◽  
Response Modulation ◽  
Male Attraction ◽  
Olfactory Responses ◽  
Animal Physiology ◽  
Adult Food

Mating has profound effects on animal physiology and behaviour, not only in females but also in males, which we show here for olfactory responses. In cotton leafworm moths, Spodoptera littoralis , odour-mediated attraction to sex pheromone and plant volatiles are modulated after mating, producing a behavioural response that matches the physiological condition of the male insect. Unmated males are attracted by upwind flight to sex pheromone released by calling females, as well as to volatiles of lilac flowers and green leaves of the host plant cotton, signalling adult food and mating sites, respectively. Mating temporarily abolishes male attraction to females and host plant odour, but does not diminish attraction to flowers. This behavioural modulation is correlated with a response modulation in the olfactory system, as shown by electro-physiological recordings from antennae and by functional imaging of the antennal lobe, using natural odours and synthetic compounds. An effect of mating on the olfactory responses to pheromone and cotton plant volatiles but not to lilac flowers indicates the presence of functionally independent neural circuits within the olfactory system. Our results indicate that these circuits interconnect and weigh perception of social and habitat odour signals to generate appropriate behavioural responses according to mating state.

Female-induced increase of host-plant volatiles enhance specific attraction of aphid male Dysaphis plantaginea (Homoptera: Aphididae) to the sex pheromone

2009 ◽  
Vol 99 (6) ◽  
pp. 593-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.W.H.M. van Tol ◽  
H.H.M. Helsen ◽  
F.C. Griepink ◽  
W.J. de Kogel
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Plant Volatiles ◽  
Aphid Species ◽  
Aphid Infestation ◽  
Induced Plant Volatiles ◽  
Pheromone Components ◽  
Dysaphis Plantaginea ◽  
Herbivore Induced Plant Volatiles ◽  
Species Specific

AbstractAll aphid species studied so far share the same sex pheromone components, nepetalactol and nepetalactone. Variation by different enantiomers and blends of the two components released by different aphid species are limited and can only partially explain species-specific attraction of males to females. While some host-plant odours are known to enhance specific attraction of aphid species, herbivore-induced plant volatiles that synergise attractiveness to the sex pheromone are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that for the host-alternating rosy apple aphid (Dysaphis plantaginea (Passerini)) specificity of attraction of males to females is triggered by female-induced tree odours in combination with a 1:8 ratio of (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone and (1R,4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactol. Female aphid infestation induces increased release of four esters (hexyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate, (Z)-3-hexenyl 3-methylbutyrate and hexyl 2-methylbutyrate) from apple leaves. Two different combinations of three esters applied in a 1:1:1 ratio increase the number of male D. plantaginea and decrease the number of other aphid species caught in water traps in the presence of the pheromone components. The ester blend alone was not attractive. Combination of the pheromone blend with each single ester was not increasing attraction of male D. plantaginea. The demonstration that sexual aphid species use herbivore-induced plant volatiles as a species-specific attractant for mate finding adds a new dimension to our understanding of insect species using or manipulating chemical cues of host plants for orientation.

scholarly journals Putative carboxylesterase gene identification and their expression patterns in Hyphantria cunea (Drury)

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10919
Author(s):  
Jia Ye ◽  
Dingze Mang ◽  
Ke Kang ◽  
Cheng Chen ◽  
Xiaoqing Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Olfactory System ◽  
Plant Volatiles ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Type I ◽  
Interference Control ◽  
Hyphantria Cunea ◽  
Sex Pheromone Components ◽  
Pheromone Components

The olfactory system of insects is important for behavioral activities as it recognizes internal and external volatile stimuli in the environment. Insect odorant degrading enzymes (ODEs), including antennal-specific carboxylesterases (CXEs), are known to degrade redundant odorant molecules or to hydrolyze important olfactory sex pheromone components and plant volatiles. Compared to many well-studied Type-I sex pheromone-producing lepidopteran species, the molecular mechanisms of the olfactory system of Type-II sex pheromone-producing Hyphantria cunea (Drury) remain poorly understood. In the current study, we first identified a total of ten CXE genes based on our previous H. unea antennal transcriptomic data. We constructed a phylogenetic tree to evaluate the relationship of HcunCXEs with other insects’ CXEs, and used quantitative PCR to investigate the gene expression of H. cunea CXEs (HcunCXEs). Our results indicate that HcunCXEs are highly expressed in antennae, legs and wings, suggesting a potential function in degrading sex pheromone components, host plant volatiles, and other xenobiotics. This study not only provides a theoretical basis for subsequent olfactory mechanism studies on H. cunea, but also offers some new insights into functions and evolutionary characteristics of CXEs in lepidopteran insects. From a practical point of view, these HcunCXEs might represent meaningful targets for developing behavioral interference control strategies against H. cunea.

scholarly journals EAG Responses of Adult Lobesia botrana Males and Females Collected from Vitis vinifera and Daphne Gnidium to Larval Host-Plant Volatiles and Sex Pheromone

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pérez-Aparicio ◽  
Torres-Vila ◽  
Gemeno
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Vitis Vinifera ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Plant Volatiles ◽  
Methyl Salicylate ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Male Response ◽  
Daphne Gnidium ◽  
Plant Volatile ◽  
Larval Host

We analysed electroantennogram (EAG) responses of male and female adults of the European grapevine moth Lobesiabotrana (Denis et Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) collected as larvae from grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) and flax-leaved daphne (Daphne gnidium L.). The host-plant odorants tested were either V. vinifera-specific [1-octen-3-ol, (E)-β-farnesene, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene], D. gnidium-specific (2-ethyl-hexan-1-ol, benzothiazole, linalool-oxide, ethyl benzanoate), or were shared by both host-plants (linalool, methyl salicylate). Sex pheromone compounds were also tested. The male response to the major pheromone component (E7,Z9-12:Ac) was higher than to any other stimuli, whereas the response to the minor pheromone components (E7,Z9-12:OH and Z9-12:Ac) was not different from the response to the plant odorants. The female response to pheromone was lower or not different from that to plant odorants. Methyl salicylate elicited a higher response in females and (E)-β-farnesene elicited a higher response than several other plant odorants in both sexes. Non-significant interactions between host-plant odorant and sex indicated an absence of sex specialization for host-plant volatile detection. The lack of a significant interaction between plant volatiles and larval host-plants suggested that there was no specialization for plant-volatile detection between V. vinifera and D. gnidium individuals.

scholarly journals Effect of Pheromones, Plant Volatiles and Spinosad on Mating, Male Attraction and Burrowing of Cadra cautella (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 845
Author(s):  
Abeysinghe M. P. Sammani ◽  
Dissanayaka M. S. K. Dissanayaka ◽  
Leanage K. W. Wijayaratne ◽  
Thushara C. Bamunuarachchige ◽  
William R. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Plant Volatiles ◽  
Male Attraction ◽  
Cadra Cautella ◽  
Sex Pheromone Components ◽  
Stored Product Pest ◽  
Pheromone Components ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Lepidoptera Pyralidae ◽  
The Impact

Mating disruption of Cadra cautella (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) using its sex pheromone components, (Z, E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate (ZETA) and (Z)-9-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate (ZTA), is successful in its population management. In addition, botanical oils have extensively been investigated in stored product pest management, but the effect of synthetic sex pheromones on the mating of C. cautella in the presence of plant volatiles is still unknown. Spinosad is used in food facilities as a contact insecticide but, if C. cautella larvae burrow into food, they may escape from spinosad. Importantly, the impact of spinosad on burrowing ability of C. cautella remains unknown. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of sex pheromone components ZETA and ZTA in the presence of botanical oils on the mating of C. cautella and the burrowing ability of C. cautella larvae in different types of flour treated with spinosad. In the first study, male and female moths were introduced into the cubicle having botanical oils and pheromone components. The mating status of female moths and male moth attraction to the trap was determined. The control experiments had only the botanical oils or pheromones. In the second study, burrowing ability of C. cautella larvae through different flour types was evaluated over 10 d. The flour was sprayed with spinosad (treatments) or water (controls). The mating success was higher with botanical oils alone but declined with exposure to pheromone either alone or combined with botanical oils. No differences in male attraction to traps were observed in botanical only, pheromone only or pheromone + botanical oil treatments. The burrowing of C. cautella larvae differed with flour type and spinosad altered burrowing ability. Thus, we conclude that the mating and burrowing of C. cautella is influenced by its pheromone and by exposure to botanicals and spinosad.

Attraction of the Gypsy Moth to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) of Damaged Dahurian Larch

2012 ◽  
Vol 67 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 437-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Li ◽  
Sanna Valimaki ◽  
Juan Shi ◽  
Shixiang Zong ◽  
Youqing Luo
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Gypsy Moth ◽  
Plant Volatiles ◽  
Flight Period ◽  
Dahurian Larch ◽  
Gypsy Moths ◽  
Volatile Organic

Olfactory responses of the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), a major defoliator of deciduous trees, were examined in Inner Mongolia, China. We studied whether the gypsy moth adults are attracted by the major volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of damaged Larix gmelinii (Dahurian larch) foliage and compared the attractiveness of the plant volatiles with that of the synthetic sex pheromone. Our results indicated that the VOCs of the Dahurian larch were effective in attracting gypsy moth males especially during the peak flight period. The VOCs also attracted moths significantly better than the sex pheromone of the moth. Our study is the first trial to show the responses of adult gypsy moths to volatile compounds emitted from a host plant. Electroantennogram responses of L. gmelinii volatiles on gypsy moths supported our field observations. A synergistic effect between host plant volatiles and sex pheromone was also obvious, and bothcan be jointly applied as a new attractant method or population management strategy of the gypsy moth.

scholarly journals Plant odour and sex pheromone are integral elements of specific mate recognition in an insect herbivore

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Borrero-Echeverry ◽  
Marie Bengtsson ◽  
Peter Witzgall
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Plant Volatiles ◽  
Sexual Communication ◽  
Mate Recognition ◽  
Pheromone Biosynthesis ◽  
Olfactory Communication ◽  
Plant Host ◽  
Male Response ◽  
Terrestrial Habitats

SummarySpecific mate recognition strongly relies on the chemical senses in many animals, and especially in nocturnal insects. Two signal types lend to premating olfactory communication in terrestrial habitats: sex signals blend into an atmosphere of habitat odorants, where plant volatiles prevail. We show for the first time that males of the African cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis perceive female sex pheromone and volatiles of its plant host cotton as a unit, rather than as independent messages. In clean air, S. littoralis males are attracted to flawed pheromone signals, such as single synthetic pheromone components or even the pheromone of a sibling species, Oriental leafworm S. litura. Presence of host plant volatiles, however, strongly reduces the male response to deficient or heterospecific pheromone signals. That plant cues enhance discrimination of sex pheromone quality confirms the idea that specific mate recognition in noctuid moths has evolved in concert with host plant adaptation. A participation of host plant odour in sexual communication suggests that mate recognition is under natural and sexual selection. Moreover, shifts in either female host preference or sex pheromone biosynthesis give rise to new communication channels that have the potential to initiate or contribute to reproductive isolation.

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