Journal
NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN
Volume 97, Issue 9, Pages 827-835Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00114-010-0700-0
Keywords
Oestrus ovis; Antennal sensilla; Antennal lobes; Electroantennogram; Odour volatiles
Categories
Funding
- Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Universita e della Ricerca, Italy
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The nasal botfly Oestrus ovis (Diptera, Cyclorrhapha: Oestridae) is a myiasis-causing insect species, which affects the health of sheep, goats and humans. Gravid females are viviparous and larviposit into the animal's nostrils. Host-searching and larvipositing flies are visually guided and influenced by climatic conditions, whereas olfaction seemed to play no role in this process. However, here, we show that the antennae of adult O. ovis female flies are relatively small but well developed and inhabited by several types of olfactory sensilla. Further, we show that the antennal lobes of this species receive input from antennal afferents and consist of a clearly defined glomerular organisation. We also give the first evidence of the fly's ability to detect several synthetic odour compounds. Our findings provide a morpho-functional basis for future investigations on olfactory-mediated behaviour of this insect pest.
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