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Related Experiment Videos

Functional specialisation and polyphenism in aphid olfactory sensilla.

Kye Chung Park1, Jim Hardie

  • 1Aphid Biology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College at Silwood Park, Berks, SL5 7PY, Ascot, UK

Journal of Insect Physiology
|May 29, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Aphid antennae show position-dependent responses to sex pheromones and plant volatiles. Secondary rhinaria detect pheromones in males and gynoparae, but their function differs in other aphid morphs.

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Area of Science:

  • Entomology
  • Insect olfaction
  • Chemical ecology

Background:

  • Host-alternating aphids exhibit distinct morphs with potentially varied sensory capabilities.
  • Antennal sensilla, particularly rhinaria, are crucial for detecting olfactory cues like pheromones and plant volatiles.
  • Understanding aphid olfaction is key to developing novel pest management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate electroantennogram (EAG) responses to aphid sex pheromone components and a plant volatile across different antennal positions and aphid morphs.
  • To determine the role of primary and secondary rhinaria in detecting these chemical cues in *Aphis fabae* and *Rhopalosiphum padi*.
  • To elucidate the functional differences of antennal sensilla among various aphid morphs.

Main Methods:

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  • Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings were performed at three distinct antennal positions on four morphs of *Aphis fabae* and *Rhopalosiphum padi*.
  • Responses to aphid sex pheromone components ((1R,4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactol and (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone) and a plant volatile ((E)-2-hexenal) were analyzed.
  • The distribution and number of primary and secondary rhinaria were considered in relation to EAG responses.

    • Main Results:

    • Aphids exhibited position-dependent and morph-specific EAG responses to pheromone components.
    • Males of both species showed strong responses to nepetalactol and nepetalactone at all recording sites, indicating activation of both primary and secondary rhinaria.
    • Asexual female morphs displayed weaker responses; secondary rhinaria in gynoparae responded strongly to pheromones, while alate virginoparae showed minimal response, similar to apterous virginoparae lacking secondary rhinaria.
    • Responses to (E)-2-hexenal were uniform across all morphs and species, suggesting detection solely by primary rhinaria.
    • EAG responses were influenced by the localized distribution of olfactory receptor neurons, not just simple receptor potential summation.

    Conclusions:

    • The function of secondary rhinaria differs significantly among aphid morphs, serving as sex pheromone receptors in males and gynoparae but not in alate virginoparae.
    • In alate virginoparae, secondary rhinaria may detect unknown volatile compounds, distinct from pheromones and the tested plant volatile.
    • Primary rhinaria appear to be responsible for detecting common plant volatiles like (E)-2-hexenal across all aphid morphs.