title: Centuries of domestication has not impaired oviposition site-selection function in the silkmoth, Bombyx mori.
abstract: Oviposition site-selection in insects is mediated through innate recognition templates (IRTs) tuned to specific chemical cues. These cues aid gravid insects in choosing suitable oviposition sites and may even enhance the fitness of their offspring by warding off predators and parasitoids. However, studies on the evolution of oviposition site-selection and cues instigating oviposition in domesticated insects remain elusive. Using the interaction between the silkmoth, Bombyx mori, and its host plant mulberry, Morus alba, as a model system, we demonstrate that centuries of domestication of silkmoth has not impaired its oviposition site-selection function. Silkmoths significantly preferred mulberry leaves to filter paper as oviposition sites. Oviposition assays with filter paper, filter paper treated with leaf volatiles and leaf alone proved that surface texture was not a significant criterion for oviposition site-selection, but volatile cues were. Oviposition assays with electrophysiologically active compounds from mulberry revealed that two of the volatiles, valencene and α-humulene, aided moths in choosing suitable oviposition sites and enhanced egg-laying significantly. Moreover, we show that generalist egg-parasitoids are strongly repelled by valencene and α-humulene. Our results demonstrate that IRTs tuned to cues that aid crucial functions like oviposition site-selection are less likely to be impaired even after centuries of domestication.
authors.affiliation: National Fellow Lab, Division of Entomology and Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesserghatta Lake Post, Bangalore 560 089, India.
authors.forename: Kamala Jayanthi Pagadala
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Damodaram
authors.affiliation: National Fellow Lab, Division of Entomology and Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesserghatta Lake Post, Bangalore 560 089, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kempraj
authors.affiliation: National Fellow Lab, Division of Entomology and Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesserghatta Lake Post, Bangalore 560 089, India.
authors.forename: Ravindra Mahadappa
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Aurade
authors.affiliation: National Fellow Lab, Division of Entomology and Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesserghatta Lake Post, Bangalore 560 089, India.
authors.forename: Sowmya Bandhisara
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Rajasekhar
authors.affiliation: Department of Insect Ecology, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Bangalore, 560 024, India.
authors.forename: Ravindra Kothapalli
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Venkataramanappa
authors.affiliation: Department of Insect Ecology, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Bangalore, 560 024, India.
authors.forename: Bakthavatsalam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nandagopal
authors.affiliation: Department of Insect Ecology, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Bangalore, 560 024, India.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verghese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D012831:Bombyx / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003463:Cues; D004531:Eggs / Q000469:parasitology; D007814:Larva / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D000081222:Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014863:Wasps / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D000081222:Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C042686:humulene; C506706:valencene