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Olfactory sampling volume for pheromone capture by wing fanning of silkworm moth: a simulation-based study

Authors :
Toshiyuki Nakata
Daigo Terutsuki
Chihiro Fukui
Tomoya Uchida
Kohei Kanzaki
Taito Koeda
Sakito Koizumi
Yuta Murayama
Ryohei Kanzaki
Hao Liu
Source :
Scientific Reports, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 1-12 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Nature Portfolio, 2024.

Abstract

Abstract Odours used by insects for foraging and mating are carried by the air. Insects induce airflows around them by flapping their wings, and the distribution of these airflows may strongly influence odour source localisation. The flightless silkworm moth, Bombyx mori, has been a prominent insect model for olfactory research. However, although there have been numerous studies on antenna morphology and its fluid dynamics, neurophysiology, and localisation algorithms, the airflow manipulation of the B. mori by fanning has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we performed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses of flapping B. mori to analyse this mechanism in depth. A three-dimensional simulation using reconstructed wing kinematics was used to investigate the effects of B. mori fanning on locomotion and pheromone capture. The fanning of the B. mori was found to generate an aerodynamic force on the scale of its weight through an aerodynamic mechanism similar to that of flying insects. Our simulations further indicate that the B. mori guides particles from its anterior direction within the ~ 60° horizontally by wing fanning. Hence, if it detects pheromones during fanning, the pheromone can be concluded to originate from the direction the head is pointing. The anisotropy in the sampling volume enables the B. mori to orient to the pheromone plume direction. These results provide new insights into insect behaviour and offer design guidelines for robots for odour source localisation.

Subjects

Subjects :
Medicine
Science

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20452322
Volume :
14
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Scientific Reports
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.2fa4ba852d124775aa009f004dae566c
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67966-y