Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (1969) 12, 591-610

P.T. Haskell and A.J. Mordue (1969)
The role of mouthpart receptors in the feeding behaviour of Schistocerca gregaria
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 12 (5), 591-610
Abstract: The role of the antennae, maxillary and labial palps and certain receptors on the posterior surface of the clypeo-labrum and the dorsal surface of the hypo-pharynx of fifth instar hoppers and mature adult male Schistocerca gregaria was investigated in simplified feeding situations.These consisted of the presentation of a known phago-stimulant, sucrose, and a known deterrent factor, azadirachtin, on filter paper with intake determined gravimetrically. The results showed that the mouthpart receptors provide the central nervous system with information on both phagostimulants and deterrents, but that the receptors on the dome of the palps played an important role in detecting the phago-stimulant and hence stimulating feeding, while the A₃ receptors seemed to operate principally in detecting the deterrent. The palps and A₃ receptors apparently act as a first line of selection, but continued feeding depended on 'satisfactory' stimulation of the A₁ and A₂ receptors of the clypeo-labrum and the H receptors of the hypo-pharynx; if these were removed together intake dropped by some 96% apparently irreversibly. Removal of the palps in hoppers initially caused a drop of feeding of some 60% but recovery of intake occurred after five days, due to the role of the palps in detecting sucrose and thus stimulating feeding being taken over by the antennae and the A₃ receptors. This recovery in hoppers following palpal removal suggests a plasticity in the central nervous handling of the incoming information from the mouthpart receptors. No such recovery occurs in mature adult males after removal of the palps.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied from Acridological Abstracts with permission by NRI, Univ. of Greenwich at Medway.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Schistocerca gregaria