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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #254153
Title: Characterization of olfactory sensilla of Stomoxys calcitrans and electrophysiological responses to odorant compounds associated with hosts and oviposition media

Author
item TANGTRAKULWANICH, KHANOBPORN - University Of Nebraska
item CHEN, HAN - University Of Nebraska
item BAXENDALE, FRED - University Of Nebraska
item BREWER, GARY - University Of Nebraska
item Zhu, Junwei - Jerry

Submitted to: Medical and Veterinary Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/29/2010
Publication Date: 8/8/2011
Citation: Tangtrakulwanich, K., Chen, H., Baxendale, F., Brewer, G., Zhu, J.J. 2011. Characterization of olfactory sensilla of Stomoxys calcitrans and electrophysiological responses to odorant compounds associated with hosts and oviposition media. Medical and Veterinary Entomology. (25):327-336. Available: doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2011.00946.x.

Interpretive Summary: Stable flies are blood-feeding insects that are considered significant economic pests of livestock and other warm blooded animals in many parts of the world. They are known to use semiochemicals for host location and selecting oviposition sites. Sensory organs located on their antennae are used in locating mates, hosts, habitats, and oviposition sites. The present study characterized the morphology, abundance, and distribution of presumptive olfactory sensilla on the funiculus of stable flies and their electrophysiological responses to selected host and oviposition site associated odorants.

Technical Abstract: Stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae) are economically-important biting flies that have caused billions of dollars in losses in the livestock industry. Field monitoring studies have indicated olfaction may play an important role in host location. To further our understanding of stable fly olfaction, we examined the antennal olfactory sensilla morphology of stable fly adults using advanced scanning electron microscopic techniques. Four major types of sensilla were found and classified as: 1) sensilla basiconica, 2) sensilla trichodea, 3) sensilla clavate, and 4) sensilla coeloconica. No significant differences in abundance (total numbers) of sensilla were observed among these sensilla types between male and female stable flies, except the medium-sized trichoid sensilla. The distinctive pore structures found on the surface of s. basiconica and s. clavete suggest they are olfactory sensilla, with chemoreceptory functions. Details in distributions of different sensilla types located on the funiculus of the stable fly antennae were also introduced. Electroantennogram results indicated significant antennal responses to host associated compounds. This research provides valuable new information that will enhance future developments in integrated stable fly management.