Ignell, Rickard
- Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
The common bed bug Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera; Cimicidae) is a temporary ectoparasite on humans that is currently reinvading the developed countries. Like other haematophagous arthropods, host seeking and orientation in C. lectularius is partially mediated by olfaction. In this study, we reconfirmed the distribution of the 44 olfactory sensilla and identified 3 different sensillum types located at the distal tip of C. lectularius antenna by external morphology mapping. Using a panel of relevant odorants previously reported to be bioactive in various haematophagous arthropods, we correlated the morphological mapping with an electrophysiological characterization of the olfactory receptor neurons housed in each specific sensillum. We found that all 9 grooved peg sensilla responded specifically in a dose-dependent manner to ammonia, whereas (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal, dimethyl trisulfide, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, alpha-pinene, indole, and ethyl butyrate evoked dose-dependent responses within the 6 smooth peg sensilla. Based on the pattern of response to the tested compounds, we were able to separate the 6 smooth peg sensilla of the bed bug into 3 distinct functional classes. We compare our results with previous electrophysiological recordings made with these compounds on other haematophagous arthropods.
Keywords
aggregation cues; chemoreception; electrophysiology; host cues; olfactory receptor neurons; single sensillum recording
Published in
Chemical Senses
2010, volume: 35, number: 3, pages: 195-204
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Zoology
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjp096
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/60875