4.5 Article

Triggering the proboscis extension reflex (PER) in Rhodnius prolixus

期刊

JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
卷 132, 期 -, 页码 -

出版社

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104249

关键词

Chagas vectors; Thermal orientation; Multimodality; Biting

资金

  1. FAPEMIG
  2. CNPq
  3. CAPES
  4. FIOCRUZ
  5. CNRS

向作者/读者索取更多资源

Kissing bugs can estimate the distance to a thermal source using thermal cues, triggering the Proboscis Extension Reflex at a specific distance from the target even without physical contact. Walking freely is necessary for accurate distance estimation, and mechanical stimuli can affect the triggering of PER.
The heat emitted by the host body constitutes a short distance orientation cue for most blood-sucking insects, as is the case of the kissing-bug Rhodnius prolixus. We evaluated here how kissing bugs assess the distance to a warm target, in order to reach it by displaying the Proboscis Extension Reflex (PER). We confronted blind-folded insects to a thermal source either at 35 degrees or at 40 degrees C under both, open- and closed-loop conditions. The results showed that nymphs were able to estimate the distance to a thermal source just using thermal information. Free walking insects displayed PER with a maximum frequency at 5 mm from the object, even without touching it. Yet, our experiments showed that the insects need to walk freely to estimate the distance to the source accurately, i.e. performing the PER at a distance allowing them to reach the target with the tip of the proboscis. The distance at which PER was triggered was independent of the temperature of the thermal source (35 degrees or 40 degrees C). Moreover, our results also unravelled that mechanical stimuli can be integrated with thermal cues, being capable of affecting the triggering of PER in kissing bugs. This is the first study providing evidence that blood-sucking vector insects use mechanoreception for eliciting their bites. We discuss our findings in the light of present models explaining the ability of kissing bugs to estimate the distance and the temperature of a potential food sources.

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