Meeting Abstract

P1.185  Saturday, Jan. 4 15:30  Gustatory Receptor Neuron in Gypsy Moth Larvae Responds to Selected Insect Repellents SANFORD, J.L.*; DICKENS, J.C. ; SHIELDS, V.D.C.; Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson; Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville, Agricultural Researcher Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville; Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson jsanfo2@students.towson.edu

Gypsy moth larvae, Lymantria dispar (L.), have a medial styloconic sensillum that assist in food selection. The medial styloconic sensillum houses a gustatory receptor neuron (GRN) that responds to alkaloids (i.e., feeding deterrents). We stimulated the medial styloconic sensillum with three different insect repellent chemicals (i.e., DEET, IR3535, and picaridin) to determine if these compounds elicited electrophysiological responses from the deterrent-sensitive GRN housed within this sensillum. We found that all three repellent chemicals stimulated the same GRN within the medial styloconic sensillum. Additionally, we found the deterrent-sensitive GRN that responded to alkaloids was the same GRN activated by these repellents. The deterrent-sensitive GRN responded to the repellent chemicals in a dose-dependent manner. The repellents elicited a phasic-tonic temporal firing response. Similarities in the temporal firing response from the deterrent-sensitive GRN to alkaloids and repellents suggest both classes of chemicals are transmitted to the insect’s central nervous system through the same transduction pathway. This study, in conjunction with a previous study on Aedes aegypti, suggests insect repellent chemicals mediate their effects through the olfactory and gustatory systems.