Meeting Abstract
For insects, mechanosensory feedback about airflow relative to the body is crucial for airspeed control during flight, as well as the rapid detection of predators that may be dangerously close. Such feedback also plays a key role in flight stabilization during rapid maneuvers or long, steady flight bouts. We investigated the neural mechanisms of airflow detection in the Oleander hawkmoth Daphnis nerii, with specific reference to their role in flight initiation. Our behavioral experiments demonstrated a robust flight initiation response to frontal air gusts, as also observed in other insects such as locusts. Using a combination of behavioral, neuroanatomical and morphometric techniques, we identified subsets of mechanosensitive bristles in the cephalic hair system located on the posterior head region in hawkmoths. When stimulated by an air puff in tethered hawkmoths, these sensors cause the rapid, sequential and systemic initiation of multiple flight-related reflexes including antennal positioning, head stabilization, wing initiation, leg extension and abdominal flexion. The primary arbors of the cephalic mechanosensory neurons span the distance from head to the mesothoracic ganglion, the region where the flight motor neurons reside. Based on these data,we propose that these reflexes are sequentially activated due to the stimulation of the cephalic bristles.
