Sensitivity to chemically diverse phagostimulants in a single gustatory neuron of a polyphagous caterpillar.
Caterpillars of the arctiid moth, Grammia geneura, are polyphagous, but species of Plantago are amongst their preferred food plants. A neuron in the medial styloconic sensillum on the galea has been shown to have a general phagostimulatory function. Experiments with binary mixtures and cross-adaptation have demonstrated that it responds to some sugars, to several amino acids, and also to catalpol. Catalpol is a plant secondary compound in Plantago and a phagostimulant for the caterpillars. The possible significance of combining sensitivity to nutrient compounds with sensitivity to a secondary compound is discussed.
Bernays
E A
EA
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721-0088, USA.
Chapman
R F
RF
Singer
M S
MS
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D039823:Iridoids; D009036:Moths / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011714:Pyrans / Q000494:pharmacology; D012694:Serine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D000596:Amino Acids; D002241:Carbohydrates; D005960:Glucosides; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D039823:Iridoids; D011714:Pyrans; C078040:catalpol; D012694:Serine