Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T06:15:04.528Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Responses of Chilo partellus to material obtained from susceptible and resistant maize cultivars: Electrophysiology and behaviour

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

S. M. Waladde
Affiliation:
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
H. M. Kahoro
Affiliation:
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
E. D. Kokwaro
Affiliation:
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
M. Chimtawi
Affiliation:
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
Get access

Abstract

Electrophysiological tests were done on larval and adult stages of Chilo partellus. The first tarsomere on the forelegs of the moths has three pairs of sensilla; two of them have similar ultrastructural details and they are innervated by gustatory cells which respond equally well to maize leaf exudate but differ in their sensitivity to sucrose. Although the third pair has morphological features resembling those of contact chemoreceptor, it responds to mechanical stimulation only. Taste sensilla on the ovipositor are more sensitive to NaCl than sucrose and they respond to the unknown components in the maize leaf exudate. On the larval maxillae the lateral styloconica sensilla are very sensitive to sucrose and the aqueous extracts from susceptible and resistant maize cultivars; the medial styloconica sensilla are mainly sensitive to NaCl and the aqueous exudate from maize stems. Preliminary tests showed that treated maize piths can provide a suitable medium for the bioassay of larval feeding behaviour.

Résumé

Des tests électrophysiologiques ont été faits sur le Chilo partellus au stade larvaire et adulte. Le premier tarsomère sur les avant pattes des insectes a trois pairs de sensilla; deux desquelles ont des détails structurels similaires et elles sont innervées par de cellules du goût qui réagissent aussi bien à l'exudat de la feuille de mais maïs diffèrent quant à leur sensibilité au sucrose. Quoique la troisième paire a des aspects morphologiques ayant une ressemblance avec ceux du chemorecepteur de contact, elle ne réagit qu'à la stimulation mécanique. Les sensilla gastotoires sur l'ovipositeur sont plus sensibles au NaCl qu'au sucrose et elles réagissent aux composés inconnus dans l'exudat de la feuille de maïs. Les sensilla stylonica latéraux sur les maxillae larvaires sont très sensibles au sucrose ainsi que aux extraits aqueux provenant des cultivars de maïs susceptibles et resistants; les sensilla styloconica médiales sont surtout sensibles au NaCl et l'exudat acqueux provenant des tiges de maïs. Des tests préliminaires ont montré que des plants de maïs traité peuvent constituer un milieu adéquat pour l'essai biologique sur le comportement alimentaire larvaire.

Type
Section III: Insect behaviour and host plant resistance
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ampofo, J. K. O. (1985) Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) oviposition and larval behaviour on some resistant and susceptible maize genotypes. Insect Sci. Applic. 6, 323330.Google Scholar
Den Otter, C. J. and Kahoro, H. M. (1983) Taste cell responses of stem-borer larvae Chilo partellus (Swinhoe), Eldana saccharina Wlk. and Maruca testulalis (Geyer) to plant substances. Insect Sci. Applic. 4, 153157.Google Scholar
Ishikawa, S., Hirao, T. and Arai, N. (1969) Chemosensory basis of host plant selection in the silkworm. Entomologia exp. appl. 12, 544554.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ma, W. C. (1969) Some properties of gustation in the larva of Pieris brassicae. Entomologia exp. appl. 12, 584590.Google Scholar
Ma, W. C. (1976) Mouth parts and receptors involved in feeding behaviour and sugar perception in the African armyworm Spodoptera exempta (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Symp. Biol. Hung. 16, 129136.Google Scholar
Ma, W.-C. and Schoonhoven, L. M. (1973) Tarsal contact chemosensory hairs of the large white butterfly Pieris brassicae and their possible role in oviposition behaviour. Entomologia exp. appl. 16, 343357.Google Scholar
Saxena, K. N. (1969) Patterns of insect-plant relationships determining susceptibility or resistance of different plants to an insect. Entomologia exp. appl. 12, 751766.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schoonhoven, L. M. (1968) Chemosensory basis of host plant selection. A. Rev. Ent. 13, 115136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schoonhoven, L. M. (1973) Plant recognition by lepidopterous larvae. Symp. ent. Soc. Lond. 6, 8799.Google Scholar
Schoonhoven, L. M. (1977) Insect chemosensory responses to plant and animal hosts. In Chemical Control of Insect Behaviour. Theory and Application (Edited by Shorey, H. H. and McKelvey, J. J. Jr), pp. 714. Wiley, New York.Google Scholar
Waladde, S. M. (1983) Chemoreception of adult stem-borers: Tarsal and ovipositor sensilla on Chilo partellus and Eldana saccharina. Insect Sci. Applic. 4, 159165.Google Scholar