The invasive Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), and yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.) are known to compete for resources during the larval stage, often resulting in the ecological displacement of Ae. aegypti by Ae. albopictus. The chemosensory system plays a pivotal role in larval foraging behavior and may contribute to the competitive advantage. Here, we employed...
The antennae are the primary olfactory organs of insects, though other appendages, such as mouthparts and the female ovipositor, can also detect odors. A prerequisite for the olfactory function of an appendage is the presence of sensilla with porous walls and the expression of chemosensory receptors by sensory neurons housed in these sensilla. In the tobacco hawkmoth, Manduca sexta, we...
Animals have evolved an extraordinary diversity of behaviors to thrive in diverse environments. However, the molecular and neuronal processes shaping behavioral evolution and niche adaptation remain poorly understood. Drosophila sechellia is a powerful genetic model for dissecting the evolutionary and mechanistic basis of niche adaptation, as it is closely related to the cosmopolitan...
Ips typographus is one of the most destructive Eurasian forests pests causing major economic and ecologically losses annually. I. typographus typically attacks stressed trees but during mass outbreaks they are able to attack and kill vigorous trees as well. Main host of I. typographus is Norway spruce (Picea abies) but they occasionally attack trees of other species as well, possibly damaging...
Chemical senses are crucial for species adaptation, particularly in insects, as they facilitate interactions between animals and their environment. While most insects are terrestrial, some have transitioned back to aquatic environments. This shift has likely demanded substantial adaptations to their chemosensory systems in order to cope with distinct physico-chemical constraints. How the...
Female mosquitoes obtain a blood meal necessary for reproduction through a fascinating behavioral trajectory that culminates in the mosquito bite. The transmission of a variety of pathogens is an unfortunate by-product of this behavior. Blood feeding is contingent on the mosquito's integration of environmental stimuli and its physiological state. Pathogens infecting a mosquito impact...
Insects rely on detecting airborne chemical signals, that are specific in the molecular composition, in order to induce relevant behavior. Previously, we were able to demonstrate that oxidant pollutants cause a disrupted sexual communication in Drosophila flies. To assess whether this effect is widespread, we conducted further experiments using such a pollutant in other insects. The results...
