Spatial orientation of the mould mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acarina: Acaridae), in the computer-programmed olfactory field

Abstract

The attractiveness of food odor to the mould mite was demonstrated in the micro-locomotion compensator (MLC) as well as in a classical choice-chamber. The MLC has been developed for use in experiments on the orientation mechanisms of tiny animals. The positioning system of the MLC constantly returns a mite walking on a glass plate to the center of the apparatus by sliding the plate. A computer controlling the MLC logs the displacement of the plate, whose array defines the path of the mite. It also controls a micro solenoid-operated valve to generate odor cues in airflow over the mite. If the odor is generated by position in a virtual olfactory field created by the MLC, the mite would exert a similar olfactory response as in a real choice-chamber. In practice, odorous zones with attractant were defined on the glass plate in a checkered pattern, and the test animal was exposed to the odor while it stayed in the zones. Mites were effectively confined to the odorous zones in the virtual olfactory field, as well as in the real choice-chamber. The frequency of stays in the odorous zones positively correlated with the odor concentration to provide a reliable estimate of attractiveness using probit analysis.

Photo-orientation regulates seasonal habitat selection in the two-spotted spider miteTetranychus urticae

“…We used a locomotion compensator (LC) designed for submillimetre-sized animals, specifically, a micro-locomotion compensator (MLC; Fig.1) that our group developed for studies of olfactory behaviour in mould mites (Kojima et al, 2003). The function of an LC, or servosphere, first developed by Kramer and Heinecke, is 'to keep a walking animal in a small experimental field and to precisely record the intended movements' of the animal (Kramer, 1975).…”

“…The Kramer-Heinecke-type LC, with a rotating sphere, has been extensively used with various ambulatory arthropods from tiny predatory mites Phytoseiulus persimilis (van Tilborg et al, 2003) to American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana (Bell and Kramer, 1979), mainly to analyse their olfactory (Kramer, 1975;Kramer, 1976;Bell and Kramer, 1979;Thiery and Visser, 1986;Visser and Taanman, 1987;Vet and Papaj, 1992;Taneja and Guerin, 1995;McMahon and Guerin, 2000;Sakuma, 2002;van Tilborg et al, 2003) and auditory behaviours (Weber et al, 1981;Verburgt et al, 2008). In addition to the automated observation of a walking animal, an LC enables the analysis of its orientation mechanisms through the closed-loop control of sensory cues with reference to the location or kinematics of the animal (Kramer, 1976;Weber et al, 1981;Sorensen and Bell, 1986;Sakuma, 2002;Kojima et al, 2003). We used an integrated system of motor and stimulator controls, which makes the feedback cue control more precise and reliable without extra position encoding for the stimulation (Sakuma, 2002).…”

“…We used an integrated system of motor and stimulator controls, which makes the feedback cue control more precise and reliable without extra position encoding for the stimulation (Sakuma, 2002). This is particularly advantageous for the cue control of a micro-scaled LC (Kojima et al, 2003). Here, we examined fine-scale localization of mites in programmed illumination fields by using the MLC driven by the control system.…”

“…To obtain behavioural evidence, we used a micro-locomotion compensator (Kojima et al, 2003) newly equipped with an LED lighting apparatus, which allows light-cue control in real time to simulate mosaic illumination in the environment, as well as precise acquisition of locomotion data. Here, we examined the photoorientation behaviour in non-diapausing and diapausing females of T. urticae towards UV and VIS to identify possible cues responsible for their seasonal habitat selection.…”

Reducing Damage to Greenhouse Spinach from Tyrophagus similis (Acari: Acaridae)Using Granular Fertilizers Applied to the Soil Surface

“…Tyrophagus putrescentiae Schrank Kojima et al, 2003Kojima et al, 2010aKojima et al, 2000Kojima et al, 2009bKojima et al, 2009b 2004 Kasuga and Honda, 200619892013 2012 2012…”