Existence of a sex pheromone in Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduvidae): II. Electrophysiological correlates

Abstract

The stimulus provided by a copulating pair of Triatoma infestans significantly affects the electrical activity of the nervous system of Triatoma infestans. Electrophysiological recordings were perfomed on stationary adult males presented with stimuli of an air current carrying odors from males, females, non-copulating pairs and mating pairs. The electrophysiological response was characterized by the low frequency occurrence of biphasic compound impulses. A significant increase in the frequency of the impulses occurred in stationary males when exposed to air currents of mating pairs, when compared to that evoked by a clean air stream. Analysis of the time course of the assays, showed that the electrophisiological activity during the copula was higher than prior to or after copula. The electrophysiological evidence presented here strongly supports the existence of pheromone(s) released by one or both sexes during mating and which is perceived by male chemoreceptors located on the antennae

An inside look at the sensory biology of triatomines

“…However, male aggregation might not be consistent across all triatomines (Pires et al 2004). In T. infestans, EAG responses to odours emitted by mating couples pointed towards the presence of a detection system for sexual signals (de Brito Sánchez et al, 1995). Adult triatomines have a pair of metasternal glands (MGs) for which no clear role was known until ten years ago (Cruz-López et al, 1995;Rossiter and Staddon, 1983;Schofield and Upton, 1978).…”

The Sexual Behaviour of Chagas' Disease Vectors: Chemical Signals Mediating Communication between Male and Female Triatomine Bugs

“…The existence of a chemical signal that is released during mating and promotes the aggregation of males around mating pairs has been consistently reported for R. prolixus and T. infestans [47,[51][52][53]. In these species, females were not observed to aggregate around a mating pair, suggesting that female behaviour is not influenced by the presence of copulating pairs [47,53].…”

Chemical ecology of triatomine bugs: vectors of Chagas disease

“…Manrique & Lazzari (1995) showed evidence chemical stimuli produced during the mating of T. infestans , attracting males and causing them to aggregate around mating pairs. De Brito Sánchez et al . (1995) obtained electrophysiological evidence supporting the existence of a sex pheromone released by one or both sexes during mating.…”