It was previously thought that the odorant binding proteins (OBPs) in the sensillum lymph might serve as carriers, which could carry lipophilic odorant molecules to olfactory receptors. In this study, two novel OBP genes of the scarab beetle Holotrichia oblita were screened using an antennal cDNA library. The full cDNA of HoblOBP3 and HoblOBP4 was cloned using reverse transcription PCR and rapi...

Abstract Background The lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) is a cosmopolitan insect pest of stored cereal grains. In this study, the fine morphology antennae, maxillary and labial palpi as well typology, distribution associated sensilla were comprehensively examined by scanning electron microscopy. Results On six types identified, s. trichodea, chaetica, two...

BACKGROUND Territorial boundaries between conspecific social insect colonies are maintained through nestmate recognition systems. However, in supercolony-forming ants, which have developed an extraordinary social organization style known as unicoloniality, a single supercolony extends across large geographic distance. The underlying mechanism is considered to involve less frequent occurrence of...

BACKGROUND The oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta is a host-switching pest species. The adults highly depend on olfactory cues in locating optimal host plants and oviposition sites. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are thought to be responsible for recognizing and transporting hydrophobic odorants across the aqueous sensillum lymph to stimulate the odorant receptors (ORs) within the antennal...

Lepidopteran insects mainly rely on sex pheromones to complete sexual communications. Pheromone receptors (PRs) are expressed the olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) of sensilla trichodea and play an essential role in communication. Despite extensive investigations into mechanisms peripheral recognition Lepidoptera, knowledge about these L. sticticalis remains limited. In this study, five candida...

Abstract Acoustic and vibrational sensitivity of single identified auditory receptors in bushcrickets was studied by electrophysiological methods. In the intermediate organ, some neurons were whose response to acceleration did not depend on stimulus frequency over a significant range; along with them, there cells showing increased frequencies 0.4–0.8 kHz for displacement, and/or 0.1–0.3, 1–1.2,...

Baculoviruses are double-stranded DNA entomopathogenic viruses that infect predominantly insects of the order Lepidoptera. Research in last decade has started to disentangle mechanisms underlying insect-virus interaction, particularly focusing on effects baculovirus infection host's physiology. Among crucial physiological functions, olfaction a key role reproductive tasks, food source detection...

The sensilla ampullacea on the apical antennomere of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens were investigated regarding both their responses to CO2 and their ultrastructure. By staining the sensillum during recording, we confirmed that the sensilla ampullacea are responsible for CO2 perception. We showed that the sensory neurons of the sensilla ampullacea are continuously active without adaptation d...

A tritium-labeled photoaffinity analog of a moth pheromone was used to covalently modify pheromone-selective binding proteins in the antennal sensillum lymph and sensory dendritic membranes of the male silk moth, Antheraea polyphemus. This analog, (E,Z)-6,11-[3H]hexadecadienyl diazoacetate, allowed visualization of a 15-kilodalton soluble protein and a 69-kilodalton membrane protein in fluoresc...