Section of General Physiology, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, SS 554 Km 4.5, 09042, Monserrato (CA), Italy.
J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2010 Nov;196(11):817-24. doi: 10.1007/s00359-010-0561-1. Epub 2010 Jul 25.
The aim of the present study was to examine the presence and the possible role of abdominal olfactory sensilla in Culicoides imicola mediating the search for potential hosts and oviposition sites, by means of a morphological, electrophysiological and behavioural approach. The results reported here show that in the midge C. imicola the whole abdomen, comprising the ovipositor, are endowed with three morphotypes of multiporous sensilla that display olfactory sensitivity towards kairomones related to the host-animal skin such as L: -(+)-lactic acid and 1-octen-3-ol, to the host-animal urine such as 3-ethylphenol and 4-propylphenol, and to the potent attractant sesame seed oil. Electrophysiological and behavioural data for the first time suggest in the midge the involvement of abdominal olfactory structures in the choice of the oviposition sites and allow in discussing their possible role in the host-animal localisation. Field experiments showed that light traps baited with the aforementioned compounds elicited a stronger degree of attractiveness on midges with respect to the unbaited traps (control), although to a different extent. Our results, while implying a number of considerations concerning the role of molecules tested as kairomones, also suggest their use in the control of the midge C. imicola population.
本研究旨在通过形态学、电生理学和行为学方法，研究腹部嗅觉感受器在致倦库蚊（Culicoides imicola）寻找潜在宿主和产卵场所中的存在及其可能作用。本研究结果表明，在致倦库蚊中，整个腹部（包括产卵器）具有三种多孔形态的感器，对与宿主动物皮肤有关的信息素（如 L: -（+）-乳酸和 1-辛烯-3-醇）、宿主动物尿液（如 3-乙基苯酚和 4-丙基苯酚）以及强引诱剂芝麻籽油具有嗅觉敏感性。电生理学和行为学数据首次表明，腹部嗅觉结构参与了产卵场所的选择，并允许讨论它们在宿主动物定位中的可能作用。田间实验表明，与未诱饵（对照）相比，用上述化合物诱饵的诱虫灯对蚊子的吸引力更强，但程度不同。我们的研究结果虽然暗示了一些关于作为信息素测试的分子的作用的考虑，但也表明它们可用于控制致倦库蚊种群。
