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Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) causes significant economic loss in fruit crops to growers worldwide. There is immediate need for efficacious and selective monitoring tools that can detect infestations early. Previously, volatile organic compounds derived from apple were studied and a quinary chemical component blend (QB) was identified as the key SWD attractant in a blueberry orchard in the United States. This study’s aim was to determine whether previously observed QB efficacy, selectivity, and early detection levels could be attained within raspberry and cherry fields in the USA and Europe. Results demonstrated that sticky trap baited QB dispenser provided earlier SWD detection potential than the usually adopted apple cider vinegar (ACV) trap. The number of SWD captured/trap by QB baited trapping systems was significantly lower than that of the ACV trap. However, percent SWD/trap of QB baited traps was same within cherry. Lower non-target capture will save farmer/grower’s labor and time allocated to traps installation and drosophila species identification. Within the USA, SWD selectivity of QB baited liquid traps was consistently greater than sticky trap in raspberry field, suggesting that the QB dispenser can be an alternative to the standard ACV lure and that trap design could improve selectivity further.

The olfactory system has become an important functional gateway to understand and analyze neuromodulation since olfactory dysfunction and deficits have emerged as prodromal and, at other times, as first symptoms of many of neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric and communication disorders. Considering olfactory dysfunction as outcome of altered, damaged and/or inefficient olfactory processing, in the current review, we analyze how olfactory processing interacts with the endocannabinoid signaling system. In the human body, endocannabinoid synthesis is a natural and on-demand response to a wide range of physiological and environmental stimuli. Our current understanding of the response dynamics of the endocannabinoid system is based in large part on research advances in limbic system areas, such as the hippocampus and the amygdala. Functional interactions of this signaling system with olfactory processing and associated pathways are just emerging but appear to grow rapidly with multidimensional approaches. Recent work analyzing the crystal structure of endocannabinoid receptors bound to their agonists in a signaling complex has opened avenues for developing specific therapeutic drugs that could help with neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and alleviation/reduction of pain. We discuss the role of endocannabinoids as signaling molecules in the olfactory system and the relevance of the endocannabinoid system for synaptic plasticity.

The spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, is an exotic vinegar fly originating from South-East Asia and has invaded many American and European countries. This devastating pest has caused severe damage on soft-skinned fruit crops, which has resulted in large economic losses. Although many D. suzukii detection devices have been developed and used by growers/farmers in orchards, most of them did not meet their expectation. More simple, convenient, and efficient detection tools are still urgently needed so that growers/farmers can make timely management decision. In our previous study a quinary blend, containing acetoin, as a long-range, and ethyl octanoate, as a short-range attractant for SWD, had been identified. In this study, a controlled-release polyethylene dispenser containing five identified attractants: acetoin, ethyl octanoate, ethyl acetate, penethyl alcohol, and acetic acid, was tested in laboratory conditions for release rates, as well as in a blueberry field and an adjacent wooded area for trapping activity. Release of the most D. suzukii attractants from the polyethylene dispenser was constant. In the laboratory, release rates of ethyl acetate (0.3 g/day over 14 days), phenethyl alcohol (0.0054 g/day over 36 days), and acetic acid (0.13 g/day over 36 days) followed zero order kinetics. Acetoin and ethyl octanoate were blended together and had a varied release rate. In the field, dry and liquid traps baited with the optimized controlled-release dispenser were evaluated and compared with liquid traps baited with apple cider vinegar (ACV). During blueberry harvest season in 2018, the liquid traps containing drowning solution baited with the optimized controlled-release dispenser caught both male and female D. suzukii two weeks earlier and had significantly higher selectivity than that of ACV traps in the field. Additionally, in 2019 field tests, dry traps baited with the controlled-release dispenser demonstrated earlier detection compared to the ACV traps. Due to the simplicity of the dry trap design and easy processing, it has great potential to be an efficient and convenient D. suzukii detection tool for growers/farmers.

The external ultrastructure of sensilla on the maxillary galea are investigated in Mamestra configurata and five other lepidopterous larvae using scanning electron microscopy. The galea and lacinia, comprising the mesal lobe of the maxilla, are either completely separate, fused, or incompletely fused in these species. The distal surface of the mesal lobe of all species examined bears two styloconic sensilla, three basiconic sensilla, and three trichoid sensilla, whereas the midventral wall of this lobe bears a campaniform sensillum. The latter sensillum is visible in only three of the six species examined. The styloconic and basiconic sensilla occupy a ventro anterior location, whereas the trichoid sensilla are positioned dorsoposteriorly. Interspecific comparisons of galeal size, as well as sensillar size, shape, and position are made for all species. The styloconic sensilla are the only sensillar type permeable to an aqueous solution of cobalt chloride when viewed by brightfield light microscopy in all species examined. Cobalt ions permeate through the terminal pore of each styloconic peg and percolate through the fenestrated fibrillar pore matrix, located directly below the pore. These ions permeate along the dendritic channel and accumulate in the adjacent sensillar sinus surrounding the peg and/or style by way of a presumably permeable dendritic sheath in all species, but to varying extents. The cuticular sidewall pores surrounding the terminal pore also appear to be permeable to cobalt ions in all the species examined. In most species examined, the styloconic sensilla are only minimally permeable to mercury ions. In these species, mercury ions permeate through the terminal pore, but become trapped within the plug of fenestrated fibrils within it. The sidewall pores are not permeable to mercury ions in any of the species examined. The styloconic sensilla are not permeable to lead ions in M. configurata or Malacosoma lutescens, the only species tested. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

An open question in olfactory coding is the extent of interglomerular connectivity: do olfactory glomeruli and their neurons regulate the odorant responses of neurons innervating other glomeruli? In the olfactory system of the moth Manduca sexta, the response properties of different types of antennal olfactory receptor cells are known. Likewise, a subset of antennal lobe glomeruli has been functionally characterized and the olfactory tuning of their innervating neurons identified. This provides a unique opportunity to determine functional interactions between glomeruli of known input, specifically, (1) glomeruli processing plant odors and (2) glomeruli activated by antennal stimulation with pheromone components of conspecific females. Several studies describe reciprocal inhibitory effects between different types of pheromone-responsive projection neurons suggesting lateral inhibitory interactions between pheromone component-selective glomerular neural circuits. Furthermore, antennal lobe projection neurons that respond to host plant volatiles and innervate single, ordinary glomeruli are inhibited during antennal stimulation with the female's sex pheromone. The studies demonstrate the existence of lateral inhibitory effects in response to behaviorally significant odorant stimuli and irrespective of glomerular location in the antennal lobe. Inhibitory interactions are present within and between olfactory subsystems (pheromonal and non-pheromonal subsystems), potentially to enhance contrast and strengthen odorant discrimination.

Gypsy moth larvae, Lymantria dispar (L.), are polyphagous feeders. The medial styloconic sensillum of this species bears a taste receptor cell that responds to alkaloids and another that responds to the sugar alcohol, inositol. The lateral styloconic sensillum bears a taste receptor cell that is sensitive to the sugar, sucrose. We tested the effect of two phagostimulants, namely sucrose and inositol, on the response of the deterrent-sensitive cell and found that both phagostimulants suppressed its response, equally, while their combination was significantly more effective. We also tested the effect of two alkaloids (i.e., strychnine and caffeine), which deter feeding in this species, on the response of the inositol- and sucrose-sensitive cells. Although both of these deterrents had no effect in suppressing the response of the sucrose-sensitive cell, they both had an effect in suppressing the inositol-sensitive cell. We also found that sucrose suppressed the response of the inositol-sensitive cell, whereas inositol had no significant effect on the response of the sucrose-sensitive cell. In this paper, we examined the effect of mixtures of these compounds to determine the nature of their interaction. In the context of host–plant interactions and, for example, host recognition, whereby host plant acceptability depends on the total sensory impression acquired from responses to multiple plant components rather than the presence or absence of single stimulant or deterrent compounds, this study could have a direct bearing in the development of natural compounds (i.e., alkaloids) for pest control and crop protection. It will also contribute to our understanding of the neural basis of the feeding behavior of this insect.

The larva of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), is considered to be one of the most serious forest pests of North America. We investigated the feeding preferences of fifth-instar larvae to seven overstory tree species in eastern Maryland, including sweet gum, Liquidambar styraciflua (L.); sugar maple, Acer saccharum (Marsh.); tulip poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera (L.); American beech, Fagus grandifolia (Ehrh.); American basswood, Tilia americana (L.); red oak, Quercus rubra (L.); and black walnut, Juglans nigra (L.), using two-choice bioassays. Feeding of larvae was determined for all possible pairings of plant species. Tests showed that sweet gum and red oak were the most highly acceptable species. Sugar maple and basswood were secondarily favored, whereas beech and black walnut were least favored. Tulip poplar was generally strongly rejected. These findings indicate that fifth-instar gypsy moth larvae exhibit a clear hierarchical feeding preference.

The antennal flagellum of the female sphinx moth, Manduca sexta, bears eight types of sensilla: two trichoid, two basiconic, one auriculate, two coeloconic, and one styliform complex. We previously described the fine structure of the trichoid and basiconic sensilla (Shields and Hildebrand 1999). In this paper, we describe one type of auriculate, two types of coeloconic, and one type of styliform complex sensilla. The auriculate (ear- or spoon-shaped) sensillum is a small peg that averages 4 µm in length, is innervated by two bipolar sensory cells, and has structural features characteristic of an insect olfactory sensillum. Each of the two types of coeloconic sensilla is a small peg that averages 2 µm in length and is recessed in a cuticular pit. One type of coeloconic sensillum is innervated by five bipolar sensory cells and has structural features characteristic of an insect olfactory sensillum or olfactory-thermosensillum, while the other is innervated by three bipolar sensory cells and has structural features characteristic of an insect thermo-hygrosensillum. The styliform complex sensillum is a large peg that averages 38-40 µm in length and is formed by several contiguous sensilla, the number of which depends on the location of the peg on the flagellum. Each unit of the styliform complex sensillum is innervated by three bipolar sensory cells and has structural features characteristic of a thermo-hygrosensillum. We also ascertained the number and distribution of each of the eight types of sensilla on a single flagellomere (annulus) about midway along the flagellum of a female antenna. A total of 2216 sensilla were found on the dorsal, ventral, and leading surfaces of that annulus.

Olfaction is the principal sensory modality through which insects locate their food sources, mates, and oviposition sites. Insects offer certain advantages as experimental models for the study of mechanisms of olfaction, and a thorough knowledge of the antennal olfactory sensory cells is essential for such studies. While the sphinx moth, Manduca sexta, has proved to be an especially favorable experimental model in studies of pheromone processing in males, little is known about the female olfactory system, including the antennal olfactory sensilla. In this and another paper in this series, we present the first thorough investigation of the structure, innervation, number, and distribution of sensilla on the antennal flagellum of female M. sexta. The flagellum of the female moth bears eight morphological types of sensilla: two trichoid, two basiconic, one auriculate, two coeloconic, and one styliform complex. In this paper, we describe the two types of trichoid and two types of basiconic sensilla. The first type of trichoid sensillum, a long hairlike sensillum averaging 34 µm in length, is innervated by two bipolar sensory cells, and the second type, a shorter hairlike sensillum averaging 26 µm in length, is innervated by either one or three bipolar sensory cells. The first type of basiconic sensillum is a long peg, averaging 22 µm in length, and the second is a shorter peg, averaging 15 µm in length. Both types of basiconic sensilla are innervated by three bipolar sensory cells. These trichoid and basiconic sensilla have structural features characteristic of insect olfactory sensilla.

The interactions between insect repellents and the olfactory system have been widely studied, however relatively little is known about the effects of repellents on the gustatory system of insects. In this study, we show that the gustatory receptor neuron (GRN) located in the medial styloconic sensilla on the maxillary palps of gypsy moth larvae, and known to be sensitive to feeding deterrents, also responds to the insect repellents DEET, IR3535, and picaridin. These repellents did not elicit responses in the lateral styloconic sensilla. Moreover, behavioral studies demonstrated that each repellent deterred feeding. This is the first study to show perception of insect repellents by the gustatory system of a lepidopteran larva and suggests that detection of a range of bitter or aversive compounds may be a broadly conserved feature among insects.

The rates of amino acid replacement in cytokines and their receptors are high and vary considerably. To determine whether this reflects the action of positive selection, rates of nonsynonymous DNA substitution were examined and found to exceed the synonymous substitution rate in certain exons of rodent IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage stimulating factor, and IL-4. To determine the extent to which positive selection could account for correlations between the amino acid replacement rates of hemopoietins and their receptors, rates were examined in various domains: the correlation with ligand rate was not confined to the ligand-binding domain of the receptor, but extended into the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains and even to leader peptide domains of both ligand and receptor. As the majority of these replacements are unlikely to be strongly advantageous, different levels of both positive and purifying selection contribute to the extensive variation in hemopoietin/receptor evolutionary rates. Changes in a few residues critical for ligand-receptor interaction may be followed by changes of lesser selective importance in both molecules: replacements of growth hormone residues that form hydrogen or salt bridges with the receptor occur in lineages in which there are many concurrent replacements. A ligand/receptor rate correlation is not found between the seven-transmembrane receptors and their ligands, whose mature forms are often short and completely conserved. This study predicts that a minority of concurrent evolutionary changes in hemopoietins and their receptors reflect directly compensatory changes.

Chemosensory cells in the lateral and the medial styloconic sensillia on the galea of larval Mamestra configurata and Trichoplusia ni were investigated electrophysiologically. Sinigrin, sucrose, inositol and potassium chloride (KCl) were tested on both sensilla of each species. One of the four cells in both the lateral and medial sensilla of T. ni was sinigrin-sensitive, whereas in M. configurata , one cell in only the lateral sensillum was sinigrin-sensitive. The lateral sinigrin-sensitive cell of T. ni was eightfold more sensitive than the corresponding cell of M. configurata . One cell in the lateral sensillum of both species was sucrose-sensitive. The medial sensillum of M. configurata housed an inositol-sensitive cell but no cell sensitive to inositol was present in T. ni . One cell in the lateral and medial sensilla of both species was KCl-sensitive. Adaptation and dose-response data are given for the sinigrin-sensitive cells in both species. These are discussed in the context of deterrent-sensitive cells reported from other Lepidoptera. Comparative physiological and evolutionary aspects are considered and the general concepts of the lepidopteran deterrent cell is discussed.

The glucosinolate, sinigrin (allyl- or 2-propenyl glucosinolate), present in several Gruciferae, was incorporated in varying concentrations into four different diet background mixtures to study the behavioural reactions of Mamestra configurata and Trichoplusia ni. Sinigrin concentrations were chosen to mimic normal levels in naturally occurring cruciferous plants, or to represent a plant during a particular stage in its growth cycle. One diet background mixture contained potassium chloride (KC1) and no stimulatory sugar or sugar alcohol, two backgrounds contained KC1 and a single sugar or sugar alcohol (sucrose or inositol, respectively), and the fourth background contained KC1 and both sugar and sugar alcohol (sucrose and inositol, respectively). Sinigrin acted primarily to reduce (deter) feeding in all backgrounds, although the effect varied with sinigrin concentration, background and species. When inositol or sucrose was included in the mixture, the deterrent effect of sinigrin was decreased in both species. When inositol and sucrose were present, suppression of the deterrent effect of sinigrin was greatest for M. configurata . The effects of mixtures were not predictable from a knowledge of the action of individual components. Differences observed between species may reflect different sensory capabilities.

Sinigrin was incorporated in varying concentrations into four background mixtures. One background mixture contained potassium chloride (KCl) and no stimulatory sugar or sugar alcohol, two backgrounds contained KCl and a single sugar or sugar alcohol (sucrose or inositol, respectively), and the fourth background contained KCl and both sugar and sugar alcohol (sucrose and inositol, respectively). The lateral sinigrin-sensitive cell of Mamestra configurata was suppressed by phagostimulants at a low sinigrin concentration range. Electrophysiological suppression of sinigrin-sensitive cells in both the lateral and medial sinigrin-sensitive cells of Trichoplusia ni was effective at a low to high sinigrin concentration range. Independent of sinigrin concentration, it appeared that inositol, sucrose, and their combination, equally suppressed the lateral sinigrin-sensitive cell of M.configurata and a combination of both inositol and sucrose suppressed the lateral and medial sinigrin-sensitive cells of T. ni . There was an interaction between inositol and sucrose; inositol did not suppress or enhance the response to sucrose of the sucrose-sensitive cells in either species, but sucrose suppressed the response of the medial M. configurata inositol-sensitive cell to inositol. Inositol and sucrose backgrounds were effective in suppressing responses to potassium chloride in M. configurata , but not in T. ni . These sensory-based mixture effects, all of which were suppressive, are used to propose mechanisms for the ameliorating effect of inositol and sucrose on the feeding deterrent action of sinigrin.

The galea of fifth-instar Bertha armyworms, Mamestra configurata, has three types of aporous sensilla: one spire-shaped basiconic peg, two short basiconic pegs, and one campaniform sensillum. The spire-shaped peg is set in an inflexible socket, innervated by three bipolar neurons, and enveloped by three sheath cells. One microtubule-laden dendrite completely fills the distal portion of the dendritic sheath and ends within the peg. It is joined by a lamellate and a scolopidium-like dendrite that end near and below the base of the peg, respectively. The ciliary sinus is large and the membrane of the enveloping inner sheath cell is highly elaborate. This sensillum exhibits features characteristic of thermo-hygrosensilla. The short basiconic pegs and campaniform sensillum are each innervated by a single bipolar neuron and each is associated with three sheath cells. In both sensilla, the dendrite ends in a tubular body, typical of mechanosensilla.

The structure and innervation of sensilla on the galea of fifth-instar Bertha armyworms, Mamestra configurata, were examined using bright-field light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. Four sensillar types were identified. The galea bears two uniporous styloconic sensilla, one aporous spire-shaped basiconic sensillum, two aporous basiconic sensilla, and one campaniform sensillum. The uniporous styloconic sensillum consists of a small socketed peg inserted into a large cone or style. Each styloconic sensillum is innervated by five bipolar neurons and associated with three sheath cells. Four distal dendrites end in the peg at various levels beneath the pore and the fifth ends in a tubular body at the base of the peg. The intermediate and outer sheath cells enclose a very large liquor-filled sensillar sinus. The inner sheath cell forms a nonlapped cylindrical sleeve around the neurons. These sensilla exhibit features of contact chemosensilla.

Lepidopteran larvae possess two pairs of styloconic sensilla located on the maxillary galea. These sensilla, namely, the lateral and medial styloconic sensilla, are each composed of a smaller cone, which is inserted into a style. They are thought to play an important role in host plant selection and are the main organs involved in feeding. Ultrastructural examination of these sensilla of fifth instar Lymantria dispar (L.) larvae reveal that they are each ≈70 µm in length and 30 µm in width. Each sensillum consists of a single sensory peg inserted into the socket of a large style. Each peg bears a slightly subapical terminal pore averaging 317 nm in lateral sensilla and 179 nm in medial sensilla. Each sensillum houses five bipolar neurons. The proximal dendritic segment of each neuron gives rise to an unbranched distal dendritic segment. Four of these dendrites terminate near the tip of the sensillum below the pore and bear ultrastructural features consistent with contact chemosensilla. The fifth distal dendrite terminates near the base of the peg and bears ultrastructural features consistent with mechanosensilla. Thus, these sensilla each bear a bimodal chemo-mechanosensory function. The distal dendrites lie within the dendritic channel and are enclosed by a dendritic sheath. The intermediate and outer sheath cells enclose a large sensillar sinus, whereas the smaller ciliary sinus is enclosed by the inner sheath cell. The neurons are ensheathed successively by the inner, intermediate, and outer sheath cells.

Distribution, morphologie fonctionnelle et morphogenese des chemo-, hygro-, thermo- et mecano-sensilles des larves et des nymphes d'insecte, en fonction du comportement d'alimentation et de la selection de la nourriture

Nine alkaloids (acridine, aristolochic acid, atropine, berberine, caffeine, nicotine, scopolamine, sparteine, and strychnine) were evaluated as feeding deterrents for gypsy moth larvae (Lymantria dispar (L.); Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). Our aim was to determine and compare the taste threshold concentrations, as well as the ED(50) values, of the nine alkaloids to determine their potency as feeding deterrents. The alkaloids were applied to disks cut from red oak leaves (Quercus rubra) (L.), a plant species highly favored by larvae of this polyphagous insect species. We used two-choice feeding bioassays to test a broad range of biologically relevant alkaloid concentrations spanning five logarithmetic steps. We observed increasing feeding deterrent responses for all the alkaloids tested and found that the alkaloids tested exhibited different deterrency threshold concentrations ranging from 0.1 mM to 10 mM. In conclusion, it appears that this generalist insect species bears a relatively high sensitivity to these alkaloids, which confirms behavioral observations that it avoids foliage containing alkaloids. Berberine and aristolochic acid were found to have the lowest ED(50) values and were the most potent antifeedants.

Deterrent compounds are important in influencing the food selection of many phytophagous insects. Plants containing deterrents, such as alkaloids, are generally unfavored and typically avoided by many polyphagous lepidopteran species, including the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). We tested the deterrent effects of eight alkaloids using two-choice feeding bioassays. Each alkaloid was applied at biologically relevant concentrations to glass fiber disks and leaf disks from red oak trees (Quercus rubra) (L.), a plant species highly favored by these larvae. All eight alkaloids tested on glass fiber disks were deterrent to varying degrees. When these alkaloids were applied to leaf disks, only seven were still deterrent. Of these seven, five were less deterrent on leaf disks compared with glass fiber disks, indicating that their potency was dramatically reduced when they were applied to leaf disks. The reduction in deterrency may be attributed to the phagostimulatory effect of red oak leaves in suppressing the negative deterrent effect of these alkaloids, suggesting that individual alkaloids may confer context-dependent deterrent effects in plants in which they occur. This study provides novel insights into the feeding behavioral responses of insect larvae, such as L. dispar, to selected deterrent alkaloids when applied to natural vs artificial substrates and has the potential to suggest deterrent alkaloids as possible candidates for agricultural use.

Platelets, while anucleate, contain RNA, some of which is translated into protein upon activation. Hypothesising that the platelet proteome is reflected in the transcriptome, we identified 82 proteins secreted from activated platelets and compared these, as well as published proteomic data, to the transcriptional profile. We also compared the transcriptome of platelets to other tissues to identify platelet-specific genes and used ontology to determine gene categories over-represented in platelets. RNA was isolated from highly pure platelet preparations for hybridization to Affymetrix oligonucleotide arrays. We identified 2,928 distinct messages as being present in platelets. The platelet transcriptome was compared with the proteome by relating both to UniGene clusters. Platelet proteomic data correlated well with the transcriptome, with 69% of secreted proteins detectable at the mRNA level, and similar concordance was obtained using two published datasets. While many of the most abundant mRNAs are for known platelet proteins, messages were detected for proteins not previously reported in platelets. Some of these may represent residual megakaryocyte messages; however, proteomic analysis confirmed the expression of many previously unreported genes in platelets. Transcripts for well-described platelet proteins are among the most platelet-specific messages. Ontological categories related to signal transduction, receptors, ion channels, and membranes are over-represented in platelets, while categories involved in protein synthesis are depleted. Despite the absence of gene transcription, the platelet proteome is mirrored in the transcriptome. Conversely, transcriptional analysis predicts the presence of novel proteins in the platelet. Transcriptional analysis is relevant to platelet biology, providing insights into platelet function and the mechanisms of platelet disorders.

Although calpain has been extensively studied, its physiological function is poorly understood. In contrast, its role in the pathophysiology of various diseases has been implicated, including that of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of the demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis (MS). In EAE, calpain degrades myelin proteins, including myelin basic protein (MBP), suggesting a role for calpain in the breakdown of myelin in this disease. Subsequent studies revealed increased calpain activity and expression in the glial and inflammatory cells concomitant with loss of axon and myelin proteins. This suggested a crucial role for calpain in demyelinating diseases.