Behavioral and chemosensory responses to a host recognition cue by larvae of Pieris rapae

摘要: Larvae of the cabbage white Pieris rapae are specialists on plants belonging to family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae). Adult females have been shown use glucosinolate gluconasturtiin (phenylethylglucosinolate) as a recognition cue for cruciferous plants, so they can identify an appropriate host oviposition (Huang and Renwick in J Chem Ecol 20:1025–1037, 1994). Here, we report our results from study role this feeding preferences P. larvae. The larvae were allowed choose between leaf disks non-host cowpea Vigna sinensis (Fabaceae) that treated with pure solvent, or solvent alone. Our showed is stimulant A series chemosensory ablations revealed response mediated by one set taste sensilla, sensilla styloconica. Electrophysiological tip recordings two neurons lateral sensillum styloconicum sensitive gluconasturtiin. These show significantly higher firing frequencies 4 mM added recording pipette than solution We propose sensitivity these important contributor animals’ behavioral preference compound.