Processing of Pheromone Information in Related Species of Heliothine Moths

Insects

Bente G. Berg¹  Xin-Cheng Zhao² 

[1] Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim 7489, Norway;Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; E-Mail:

关键词: pheromone;    interspecific signal;    macroglomerular complex;    odorant receptor;    olfactory sensory neuron;    compartmentalization of sensory neurons;    lateral horn;   

DOI  :  10.3390/insects5040742

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In heliothine moths, the male-specific olfactory system is activated by a few odor molecules, each of which is associated with an easily identifiable glomerulus in the primary olfactory center of the brain. This arrangement is linked to two well-defined behavioral responses, one ensuring attraction and mating behavior by carrying information about pheromones released by conspecific females and the other inhibition of attraction via signal information emitted from heterospecifics. The chance of comparing the characteristic properties of pheromone receptor proteins, male-specific sensory neurons and macroglomerular complex (MGC)-units in closely-related species is especially intriguing. Here, we review studies on the male-specific olfactory system of heliothine moths with particular emphasis on five closely related species, i.e., Heliothis virescens, Heliothis subflexa, Helicoverpa zea, Helicoverpa assulta and Helicoverpa armigera.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.