The contribution of gustatory input to larval acceptance and female oviposition choice of potential host plants in Papilio hospiton (Géné)

Abstract

The Lepidopteran Papilio hospiton uses only plants belonging to the Apiaceae and the Rutaceae families as hosts. Both adult females and larvae are equipped with gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) capable of detecting sugars, bitters and salts, thus providing information for evaluating the chemical composition of the plant. Since the activation of these neurons may affect insect behavior, the aim of this study were: (a) to study the gustatory sensitivity of both females and larvae to the sap of two Apiaceae, Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) and Daucus carota (carrot), that are not used as host plants; (b) to cross-compare the spike activity evoked from these two plants with that evoked by Ferula communis (ferula), the host plant preferred by ovipositing females of P. hospiton and where the larvae perform best; (c) finally, to confirm that the gustatory system can provide the central nervous system with the necessary information to evaluate differences between plant saps. The results show that: (a) fennel and carrot both evoke a higher neural activity from the bitter-sensitive neurons and lower from the sugar-sensitive neurons with respect to ferula, in both adult females and larvae; (b) on the basis of the different patterns of neural activity generated in tarsal, lateral and medial sensilla by fennel and carrot versus ferula, both adult and larvae possess enough information to discriminate among these plants; (c) adult females of P. hospiton lay eggs where the larvae have the greatest growth Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 2019;100:e21521.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/arch

Efficacy of Precocene I from Desmosstachya bipinnata as an Effective Bioactive Molecules against the Spodoptera litura Fab. and Its Impact on Eisenia fetida Savigny

“…The sensilla gustatory of insects have receptors for positive and negative stimulants. The physiological mode of action on the gustatory receptors can block or prevent insects determining host acceptability information [57,58]. Many researchers are focused on the discovery and use of phytochemicals as bioactive compounds that are suitable for effective pest suppression or repellency that can be developed into insecticides [59].…”

Peripheral taste detection in honey bees: What do taste receptors respond to?

“…These sensilla are cuticular evaginations with a characteristic aperture at their apex (Figure 1b). By being located on different body organs, gustatory sensilla may participate in several behavioral contexts, from food and oviposition‐site detection (Sollai et al., 2018; Sollai & Crnjar, 2019) to nestmate and sexual recognition (Meunier et al., 2000; Starostina et al., 2012; Stoffolano et al., 1997), among others.…”

Plant Metabolites Drive Different Responses in Caterpillars of Two Closely Related Helicoverpa Species

“…The dietary acceptance and host range of caterpillars might relate to the spectrum of the sensitivity of gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) in the galeal styloconic sensilla to the plant metabolites (Jermy, 1966;Thompson, 1991;Bernays et al, 2000b;Wada-Katsumata et al, 2013;Sollai and Crnjar, 2019). Therefore, comparing feeding behaviors and taste responses between closely related species with different host ranges could contribute to understanding the host acceptability, diet breadth, and evolution of host adaptation (Sheck and Gould, 1996;Bernays et al, 2000b;Renwick, 2001;Liu et al, 2012;Sollai et al, 2014).…”