Meeting Abstract

P1.186  Saturday, Jan. 4 15:30  Electroantennogram Responses of Acheta domesticus to Plant-Associated Volatiles NESLUND, M/C*; BAKER, T/C; SHIELDS, V/D/C; Towson University; The Pennsylvania State University; Towson University mneslu1@students.towson.edu

Insects use their antennae to locate food sources, mates, and oviposition sites. The antennae are the main olfactory sensory organs or sensilla by which odorants pass through small pores in the cuticle where they interact with the underlying dendrites, relaying information to the brain of the insect. Acheta domesticus bear sensilla contained on their long easily accessible antennae that have been identified as possessing an olfactory function via electron microscopic studies, allowing this species to be used as an excellent model to study olfaction. In addition, information is sparse regarding the olfactory system of crickets. In this study, we used an electroantennographic detection technique (EAG) to determine which behaviorally relevant plant-associated volatiles, selected from a wide array of chemical classes, were detected by olfactory receptor neurons within the olfactory sensilla on the antennae. We found some volatiles to elicit strong EAG responses (e.g., aromatic esters, green leaf volatiles), while others evoked medium to weak responses. This study was carried out in conjunction with behavioral bioassays using a y-tube olfactometer. The results of this research will hopefully advance our understanding of insect olfaction in this species.