Larval sensilla of the moth <i>Heliothis virescens</i> respond to sex pheromone components

Zielonka, Monika; Gehrke, Peter C.; Badeke, Elisa; Sachse, Silke; Breer, Heinz; Krieger, Jürgen

doi:10.1111/imb.12253

Cited by 21 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Specific behaviours were suggested to be related with the pheromone release, that is, the raise of elytra and the squeezing of the female abdomen. As a result of high volatility of the pheromone, we hypothesize that sensilla basiconica or sensilla grooved peg are related to pheromone detection, as already reported in other coleopteran (Okada et al, 1993) and non‐coleopteran species (Zielonka et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Antennal sensory organs and glands of the harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis

Sevarika

Rondoni

Conti

et al. 2020

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a sub-cosmopolitan species. Native to Asia, it has been released during the 20th century for classical and augmentative biological control of several herbivorous insects, mostly aphids and coccids. Despite its recognized positive impact on biological control, H. axyridis is now considered among the most dangerous invasive species in Europe and in most places where it has established. This is mostly due to its ability to reduce the populations of native predatory species of the same trophic guild. When exploring a new area, H. axyridis adults use semiochemical cues to acquire information about the habitat. Presumably, these cues are perceived by the sensilla located on the antennae. Surprisingly, in spite of the huge literature existing on H. axyridis, the antennal sensory organs have been poorly characterized. Here, we used scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) techniques to study H. axyridis antennae, with focus on the various types of sensilla and their distribution in male and female individuals. The presence of various classes of antennal sensilla belonging to the main types described in insects (chemoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, and thermo-hygroreceptors) was highlighted, as well as the widespread presence of antennal glands. The investigations showed some peculiar characteristics not known in Coccinellidae, such as the concentration of sensory structures at the level of the distal part of the apical antennomere and the discovery of antennal glands associated with it. No sexual dimorphism was revealed, neither for the general structure of the antenna (similar number of antennomeres and presence of modifications), nor for the total length and width of the antenna, the relative size of the antennomeres, the types of antennal sensilla, of their distribution and abundance. The potential relevance of these sensory structures and antennal glands, reported for the first time in Coccinellidae, is discussed in the context of intra-and interspecific communication.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Antennal sensory organs and glands of the harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis

Sevarika

Rondoni

Conti

et al. 2020

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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“…The latter observation confirms and extends the results of previous FISH and FIHC experiments (Forstner et al ., ; Pregitzer et al ., ). To visualize the expression of SNMP1 protein and to further explore the topography of the SNMP cells we used a SNMP1‐specific antiserum (Pregitzer et al ., ; Zielonka et al ., ). The results of FIHC experiments with sections of female antennae confirmed the high number of SNMP1‐positive cells as visualized by the FISH approach (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Molecular elements of pheromone detection in the female moth, Heliothis virescens

2017

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Pheromones play pivotal roles in the reproductive behavior of moths, most prominently for the mate finding of male moths. Accordingly, the molecular basis for the detection of female-released pheromones by male moths has been studied in great detail. In contrast, little is known about how females can detect pheromone components released by themselves or by conspecifics. In this study, we assessed the antenna of female Heliothis virescens for elements of pheromone detection. In accordance with previous findings that female antennae respond to the sex pheromone component (Z)-9-tetradecenal, we identified olfactory sensory neurons that express its cognate receptor, the receptor type HR6. All HR6 cells coexpressed the "sensory neuron membrane protein 1" (SNMP1) and were associated with supporting cells expressing the pheromone-binding proteins PBP1 and PBP2. These features are reminiscent to male antennae and point to congruent mechanisms for pheromone detection in the two sexes. Further analysis of the SNMP1-expressing cells revealed a higher number in females compared to males. Moreover, in females, the SNMP1 neurons were arranged in clusters, which project their dendrites into a common sensillum, whereas in males there were only solitary SNMP1-neurons and only 1 per sensillum. Not all SNMP1 positive cells in female antennae expressed HR6 but instead the putative pheromone receptors HR11 and HR18, respectively. Neurons expressing 1 of the 3 receptor types were assigned to different sensilla. Together the data indicate that on the antenna of females, sensory neurons in a subset of sensilla trichodea are equipped with molecular elements, which render them responsive to pheromones.

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“…The onset of SNMP1 expression coincides with the time of expression of pheromone-detecting ORs in adult males' OSNs (Gohl and Krieger 2006) and the onset of olfactory function (Schweitzer et al 1976). Interestingly, analysis of the larval antenna of Heliothis virescens uncovered the presence of HvirSNMP1 in 6 out of 38 OSNs, two of which were coexpressed with the pheromone receptor HR6 (Zielonka et al 2016). Since OSNs of the larval antenna respond to female sex pheromone components (Poivet et al 2012, Zielonka et al 2016, this finding indicates a critical role of SNMP1s in subsets of OSNs in earlier developmental stages and suggests a similar molecular machinery for pheromone detection in adult moths and larvae.…”

Section: Requirement Of Snmp1s For Pheromone and Odorant Detectionmentioning

confidence: 96%

The role of SNMPs in insect olfaction

Cassau

Krieger

2020

Cell Tissue Res

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The sense of smell enables insects to recognize olfactory signals crucial for survival and reproduction. In insects, odorant detection highly depends on the interplay of distinct proteins expressed by specialized olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) and associated support cells which are housed together in chemosensory units, named sensilla, mainly located on the antenna. Besides odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and olfactory receptors, so-called sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) are indicated to play a critical role in the detection of certain odorants. SNMPs are insect-specific membrane proteins initially identified in pheromone-sensitive OSNs of Lepidoptera and are indispensable for a proper detection of pheromones. In the last decades, genome and transcriptome analyses have revealed a wide distribution of SNMP-encoding genes in holometabolous and hemimetabolous insects, with a given species expressing multiple subtypes in distinct cells of the olfactory system. Besides SNMPs having a neuronal expression in subpopulations of OSNs, certain SNMP types were found expressed in OSN-associated support cells suggesting different decisive roles of SNMPs in the peripheral olfactory system. In this review, we will report the state of knowledge of neuronal and non-neuronal members of the SNMP family and discuss their possible functions in insect olfaction.

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Larval sensilla of the moth Heliothis virescens respond to sex pheromone components

Cited by 21 publications

References 48 publications

Antennal sensory organs and glands of the harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis

Antennal sensory organs and glands of the harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis

Molecular elements of pheromone detection in the female moth, Heliothis virescens

The role of SNMPs in insect olfaction

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