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Title: PATTERNING OF GUSTATORY NEURAL INPUTS FOR HOST SELECTION AND CONSPECIFIC RECOGNITION IN THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE.

Author
item Dickens, Joseph
item HOLLISTER, BENEDICT - UNIV. OF MARYLAND
item Vinyard, Bryan

Submitted to: European Symposium on Insect Taste and Olfaction
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/13/2003
Publication Date: 7/7/2003
Citation: 8th European Symposium on Insect Taste and Olfaction, 2003. Abstract p. 44.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Spike patterns of neural complements within sensilla on the antennae, galeae, and legs of the Colorado potato beetle were investigated for responses to feeding stimulants, deterrents, and sexual recognition factors associated with elytra. Rather than measuring activity of individual spikes relative to salt (electrolyte), neural responses to all stimuli including salt were characterized by calculating spike distribution patterns in different sensilla for each combination of gender and stimulus. Thus the percentage of activity of each of three chemosensory neurons within a sensillum was calculated from several replicates. Cluster analysis provided r2 values indicative of the level of similarity of neural response patterns for each stimulus for each sensillum type. Significant differences among neural response patterns by gender were determined using Fisher's exact test. A feeding deterrent was detected by sensilla on all appendages. The highest levels of responsiveness to feeding stimulants occurred in sensilla on mouthparts, and antennae, perhaps prescient to a meal. Sexual recognition (represented by extracts of male and female elytra) occurred through sensilla on the legs of males and females, and antennae of males. These results provide a functional view of the localization and specialization of gustatory sensilla, and a better understanding of input channels important for selection and utilization of resources by the Colorado potato beetle and possibly other insects.