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Using Single Sensillum Recording to Detect Olfactory Neuron Responses of Bed Bugs to Semiochemicals

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Olfactory experience modifies semiochemical responses in a bark beetle predator.

Arnaud Costa¹, John D Reeve

¹Deparment of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA. arnaud.costa@dpi.vic.gov.au

Journal of Chemical Ecology

|November 18, 2011

Summary

Forest predators like Thanasimus dubius can detect multiple prey signals. Olfactory experience influences their attraction, explaining prey switching in bark beetle ecosystems.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Entomology
Chemical Ecology

Background:

Forest insect pests exhibit population fluctuations, impacting predator persistence.
Predators may adapt by responding to multiple prey cues or learning and switching prey.
Thanasimus dubius (F.) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) is a generalist predator of bark beetles.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate the kairomonal response of Thanasimus dubius to various prey signals.
Determine the effect of olfactory experience on predator behavior.
Provide insights into prey switching mechanisms in bark beetle food webs.

Main Methods:

Field choice tests and wind tunnel experiments were used.
Predators were exposed to prey pheromone components (frontalin, ipsenol, ipsdienol, sulcatol) and host volatiles (α-pinene).
Semiochemically naive predators were tested with pheromones alone or paired with a reward.

Main Results:

Thanasimus dubius populations demonstrated a generalist ability to respond to a wide array of kairomonal signals.
Naive T. dubius showed increased attraction to ipsenol when it was associated with a reward.
This study provides the first evidence of olfactory experience influencing the behavior of this key bark beetle predator.

Conclusions:

Thanasimus dubius exhibits behavioral plasticity in response to prey cues.
Olfactory learning plays a role in the prey selection of T. dubius.
Findings offer a potential explanation for observed prey switching patterns in field studies of bark beetle ecosystems.