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Chemical communication in heliothine moths

I. Antennal receptor neurons encode several features of intra- and interspecific odorants in the male corn earworm moth Helicoverpa zea

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Responses of single olfactory receptor neurons to pheromones were recorded with tungsten microelectrodes on the antennae of male Helicoverpa (Heliothis) zea. Recordings were obtained from the male specific sensilla trichodea type 1.

  2. 2.

    More than half (49/91 units) could be classified as olfactory receptor neurons, 35 of which were selective for pheromone components of the heliothine moths H. zea and Heliothis virescens. The majority (31/35) were most responsive to the principal component (Z)-11-hexadecenal (Z11-16∶AL). The other 4 were tuned to (Z)-9-tetradecenal (Z9-14∶AL), which is a pheromone component in the sympatric species H. virescens, and also interrupts attraction of H. zea males.

  3. 3.

    The specificity and sensitivity of these neurons were similar to the corresponding neurons in H. virescens, suggesting homologous populations of neurons in the two species. No other neurons selective for other pheromone compounds were identified.

  4. 4.

    Receptor neurons of both types (tuned to Z11-16∶AL and Z9-14∶AL respectively) showed variations in temporal response characteristics. Some responses showed a pronounced phasic spiking component, a rapid decay, and return to background activity after stimulation. Other responses were more prolonged, far outlasting the stimulation period. Phasic neurons also followed short, rapid stimulus pulses better than tonic neurons, suggesting that they may encode different features of an intermittent pheromone plume.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Trondheim, AVH, 7055, Dragvoll, Norway

    Tor J. Almaas, Thomas A. Christensen & Hanna Mustaparta

  2. Arizona Research Laboratories, Division of Neurobiology, University of Arizona, 611 Gould-Simpson Science Building, 85721, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Thomas A. Christensen

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  1. Tor J. Almaas
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  2. Thomas A. Christensen
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  3. Hanna Mustaparta
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Almaas, T.J., Christensen, T.A. & Mustaparta, H. Chemical communication in heliothine moths. J Comp Physiol A 169, 249–258 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00206989

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