INSECTS’ SENSORY

SYSTEM &
BEHAVIOR
By: Ummi Nur Afinni D.J., M.Pd.
 Differentiate host
(plant/animal),
Ability to sense & distinguish
Success of insect interpret their microclimatic
surrounding factors (humidity,
air flow,
temperature)

Environmental cues
Function: growth &
in a form of energy
reproduction
(light, heat, kinetic)
Sensory structure use:
Message in the form of a nerve
impulse

The central nervous system so

appropriate response can be
initiated

Use energy to work (generate a

message that can be conducted
to a decoding area)
 Mechanoreception

Definition Include Location

• The sense that allow • Physical orientation • Integument

insects to detect their (body position) • Internal organs
mechanical • Acceleration
environments/stimuli
• Vibration
physical contact with
• Sound
solid surfaced
• Displacement
(touching & being
touched)
Arthropod
Mechanoreceptors
Type I Type II

• Cuticular • Nonciliated neurons

• Cilliated receptors • Central bodies have
associated with the many fine dendritic
cuticle endings
• Have their nerve cell mechanosensitive but
bodies in the lacks detailed
periphery structures seen in
Type I receptors
• Found in many
internal structure. Ex.:
musculature
Insect Mechanoreceptors
Insect Mechanoreceptors
Found on the outer surface in Found particularly in compact
the form of long, thin hairs; groups near the joints detect
short pegs and scales stress in the cuticle

Can contain
additional
sensory
neurons
chemoreceptors
in taste hairs or
thermoreceptors

Mostly located on the Generally found further beneath the

tarsal segment of the legs,
integument by attachment structures 
antennae & mouthparts
hearing and joint movement detection
Mechanical
Stimuli Mechanoreception
Tactile

(hair sensilla)

Tubular body of
sensory neuron has a
large number of
microtubules roles in
the development and
structural maintenance
of the sensilla

Outer sheath cell

membrane-producing
cell maintaining
appropriate ionic &
molecular environment
Generative hair cell
for stimulus
transduction &
conduction by the
dendrites
Mechanical Stimuli
Position Mechanoreception (campaniform sensilla)

• Sense organs able to responds continuously to deformation

(changes in length) & stresses (tensions and compressions) in
the body
1.

• Provide an organism with information on posture and position

2.

• 5 types proprioceptors in insect hair plates; campaniform

sensilla; chordonotal organs; stretch receptors & nerve nets
3.
Mechanical Stimuli
Position Mechanoreception (hair plate)
Mechanical Stimuli
Position Mechanoreception (hair plate & campaniform sensilla)
Serves as a
stretch/compression
sensor
Mechanical Stimuli
Position Mechanoreception (chordonotal receptors)
Mechanical Stimuli
Position Mechanoreception (stretch receptor)
Signal Detection by Mechanoreceptor
From stretching of the membrane & the
opening of transduction (stretch-activated)
channels includi specific protein that serve as
“gates”

Transduction
• Deformation of the • Transfer of
sensory neuron’s • The generation of information from the
dendritic membrane the receptor sensillum to the CNS
(generator) current

Coupling When the gates

Encoding
opened, K+ ions rush
By movement of the in from the extra- A train of action
hair in its socket; dendritic space, potential induced by
inward movement of creating the receptor the receptor current
cuticular dome in current
campaniform form or
stretching of the
chordonotal sensillum
Sound
Stimuli

Non-tympanal
vibration reception
chordonotal organs
Sound Stimuli
Tympanal sound reception
Thermal Stimuli

Behavioral
(ectothermy)
basking
Thermoregulation
Physiological
(Endothermy) 
Thermal Stimuli Thorax flight muscles

Antennae (Antennal
Thermoreceptors temperature
receptors)
Chemical Stimuli
Chemoreception

Contact reception
(gustatory, taste)

Chemical sense
Distant (smell,
olfactory)
chemoreception
Chemical Stimuli
Chemoreception

depolarize a
Chemosensors Transferred to a
membrane
trap chemical site for
stimulate a nerve
molecules recognition-->
impulse
Chemical Stimuli
Effective trapping localization of the chemoreceptors (taste receptors)
• Salt & sugar receptors on
Chemoreceptors Localization

the labellum
• Ex: extension of
Mouthparts proboscis pattern to
search food

Identification of suitable
Ovipositors oviposition sites

First encounter sensory

Antennae stimuli endowed with
chemoreceptors

• Particularly tarsi (contact

with substrate)
Legs • Feeding behaviors is
induced when a tarsal
chemoreceptors is
stimulated with sucrose
Chemical Stimuli
Chemoreceptors uniporous or multiporous sensilla
• Contains a chamber (basal contact
with a dendritic chamber that lies
hairs beneath the cuticle)
• Outer chamber extrude viscous
liquid assist entrapment & chemical
Uniporous

transfer to dendrites

pegs

• Relatively thick walls and simple

permeable pore, apical or central
plate
• Detect chemicals by contact and some
olfactory function

Pores in cuticular
depression
Chemical
Stimuli

Multiporous sensilla  hair

or peg-like setae with many
round pores/slits in the thin
walls  pore keetle
Chemical Stimuli
Gustatory (contact) neuron

• Classified best according to their function

• To feeding, there are cells whose activity in response

to chemical stimulation either is to enhance or

2 reduce feeding  phagostimulatory/deterrent

Chemical Stimuli
Semiochemicals (chemical odors) Kairomones

Interspecific Allomones

communication
Semiochemicals Synomones

function
Intraspecific
Pheromones
communication

• Substances secreted to the outside by one individual and

received by a 2nd individual of the same species in which they
release a specific reaction
• Predominantly volatile, sometimes liquid contact chemicals
• Produced by exocrine glands derived from epidermal cells
• May be released over the surface of the cuticle or form
specific dermal structures
Chemical Stimuli
Semiochemicals
Scent organ location
Eversible sacs or pouches
Lepidoptera between the 8th & 9th
abdominal segments

Honey bee Mandibular

Aphids On the swollen hind tibiae

Cockroach Within midgut and genitalia

Chemical
Stimuli
Olfactory sensilla
Chemical Stimuli
Pheromones Classification Sex attraction pheromones and
courtship pheromones
Sex pheromones
Causes conspecific insects of
both sexes to crowd around
the source 
Aggregation
Pheromones

Mating, security, food source

pheromones utilization, cohesion of social
insect; host resistance

Spacing pheromons Deterrent pheromones

Volatile, non-persistent
Alarm pheromones compounds; provoked by
threat
• Volatile & short-lived
Trail-making chemicals that evaporate
pheromones within days unless reinforce
• E.g: in ants  mark their trails
to food & nest
Chemical Stimuli
Sex Pheromones
Chemical Stimuli
Sex pheromones
Chemical Stimuli
Aggregation & spacing pheromones on pine beetle
( Dendroctonous brevicomis)

Finding new tree

Both sexes attracted and
colonizing females Cumulative lure of
newly arrived males then
release pheromone ( frontalin, exo-brevicomin
add to another
exo-brevicomin & myrcene synergistic
pheromone (frontalin)
augmented by myrcene)
Chemical Stimuli
Aggregation & spacing pheromones on pine beetle
( Dendroctonous brevicomis)

Beetle mate on the tree, Verbenone (female) &

Spacing out new
both sexes produced ipsdienol (male) deter
colonist,, further arrivals
“anti-aggregation” further beetles to arrive
are repelled
pheromone at the tree
Chemical Stimuli
Spacing hormones effect spacing on food resources phytophagous
insects

Ovipositing female Deterring

Tephritid flies lay
deposits ovi-position subsequent
eggs in fruit where
deterrent pheromone oviposition from
larva is to develop
on the fruit another insect
Chemical Stimuli
Interspecific semiochemicals

• Benefit the receiver, disadvantage the producer

Kairomones • Plant hormones attract damaging insects; host’s

hormones attract specific parasitoids

• Benefit the producer, neutral effect on the recipient

Allomones • e.g: defensive &/or repellent chemicals by beetle;

bug, ants, bees, wasps

• Benefit both the producer & receiver

Synomones • e.g: parasitoid of phytophagous insects

Carbondioxide as sensory cue
• Detect & measure the concentration of
environmental chemical using specialized
receptors cells
CO2 importance

Sensory • Located on either antennae or mouthparts

(not on both types of any species)
structures that • Labial palp (lepidoptera), maxillary palp
(larval lepidoptera & mosquitoes &
detect midges); antennae (hymenoptera,
coleoptera)
atmospheric CO2
Carbondioxide as sensory cue
Detection of CO2 levels/gradient in CO2 concentration has been impicated in
many insects activities, including, allowing or assisting:

• Locate healthy host plants for oviposition

Butterflies, moth, (plant release/uptake CO2 depending on their

photosynthetic activity)

adults fruit flies • Home in on damaged fruit (which release CO2

from wounds

• Locate of select roots, fruits, or flower for

Lepidoptera, feeding (sources of CO2)

Coleoptera larva
Carbondioxide as sensory cue
Detection of CO2 levels/gradient in CO2 concentration has been impicated in
many insects activities, including, allowing or assisting:

Blood-feeding • Detect vertebrate hosts

insects
(mosquito)

Social insects • Regulate levels of CO2 in their nest

by fanning behavior at the nest
(ants and entrance or by altering nest
termites) architecture
INSECT VISION
Photoreceptors (cells containing light-sensitive molecules) & nervous
system complex process visual information

Microvili
Retinula (nerve)
(consisting
cells
visual pigment)

Rhabdom
(photoreceptive)
INSECT VISION
Photoreceptors (cells containing light-sensitive molecules) & nervous
system complex process visual information

Triggering Transmitted via

Changing of change of chemical
Light falling
visual pigment electrical synapses to
onto rhabdom
configuration potential across nerve cells in
the membrane the brain
INSECT VISION
• Sensory receptors below the
body cuticle
• E.g: in cockroaches &
Dermal detection lepidopteran larvae
Visual Organs

• The only visual organs of

larval holometabolous
• Located on the head, 1-7 in
Stemmata number, contain
photoreceptors & associated
nerve cells (highligh
sensitivity)

Ocelli • Adult and nymph have

dorsal ocelli lies in a triangle
in addition of compound
eyes
Compound eyes • Adult and nymph have a
pair of large, prominent
compound eyes with covers
nearly 360 degrees of visual
space
INSECT VISION

Compound eyes
a. Stemmata b) ocelli (repetition of ommatidia)
LIGHT PRODUCTION
(Bioluminescence)
• Co-opt symbiotic luminescent bacteria/fungi

Source & • Self-luminescence (few collembola, hemiptera,

coleoptera)
• Function courtship signalling

function

• Enzyme luciferase oxidizes a substrate,

luciferin, in the presence of ATP & O2
oxyluciferin, CO2 & light

mechanism • Variation in ATP controls rate of flashing

• Differences in PH allow variation in color of
light emitted
 THE NERVOUS
SYSTEM &
COORDINATION
INTRODUCTION Immediate & obvious
adjustments/response
Ex:
flight from predators

Animal constantly Nervous system

monitor their transfer message to
internal & external the effector system
environment

Received by sensory
by Response depends on
structure & central
the nature of stimulus
nervous system
Make necessary
adjustments/
response to maintain The use of chemical
themselves optimally messages
& reproduce at (hormone, viz)
maximum rate

Delayed response
Longer-term
Ex: entry into diapause
to avoid impending
adverse condition
INSECTS’ NERVOUS SYSTEM: Neurons

Cytoplasmic
Extension Monopolar neurons lacking dendritic tree
usually
branched cell body
contain
nucleus,
organelle
Bipolar neurons mitochondria

Multipolar neurons dendritic tree

Neurites
axon branches
INSECTS’ NERVOUS SYSTEM: Glial Cells
INSECTS’ NERVOUS SYSTEM
INSECTS’ NERVOUS SYSTEM
 INSECTS’
BEHAVIOR
INSECTS’ BEHAVIOR

• Programmed genetically to
arise stereotypically upon
Innate first exposure to the
Behavior

appropriate stimulus

• Ex: virgin & mated females

Environmentally & respond in very different
physiologically modified ways to identical stimuli
compared with conspecific
adult

Learning & memory • Acquisition of neuronal

representations of new
information (new changes
to the environment, visual,
or olfactory characcteristic
INSECTS’ BEHAVIOR

kinesis

Multiple

taxis
Reflexes

Reflexes to
Individual
simple stimuli
EXAMPLE OF INSECTS’ BEHAVIOR
EXAMPLE OF INSECTS’ BEHAVIOR
Univoltine ( one
Voltinism generation/year)

Bivoltine ( two
generations/year)

multivoltine (2 or more
generations/year)

Semivoltine (excess of
1 year)
EXAMPLE OF INSECTS’ BEHAVIOR
Voltinism
DIAPAUSE
• Seasonal survival strategy; Dynamic state of low metabolic activity
• Influenced by species-specific ecological interaction, biogeography, life

1. history & physiology

• Genetically determined and mediated by neurohormones that phenotypically

affect individuals by decreasing morphogenesis, blocking reproduction &

2. metamorphosis, increasing tolerance to extreme environmental condition

• Major stimuli inducting diapause: (1) changing photoperiod (short day &
long nights) & 2) gradual decreases in temperature
3.
Ecophysiological Phase of Diapause

• Sensitive stage exposed to

Diapause preparation
DIAPAUSE

one/more environmental
(token stimuli)

• Sub phases: (i) responsive

Diapause phase; (ii) initiation stage;
(iii) termination
• Endogenous changes:
lower lipid degradation,
Post-Diapause low temperature, dll

• Characterized by: complete

reactivation of metabolism
& development in the
insect
 • Common type of dormancy
DIAPAUSE • The pharate larvae/egg is
unable to respond to any
abiotic signals refractory
to hatching stimuli
• More tolerant to desiccation
& have higher lipid content
Embryonic diapause than normal embryo/egg
DIAPAUSE

• Regulated by Overexpression
of ecdysteroids transcript

• Prolongation of the third

Larval stages diapause or fourth instar
• Stimulated by a gradual
decrease in environmental
temperature &
Adult females diapause photoperiod

• Characterized by: interruption of gonadal

development, reduced behavior, negative
phototaxis, changes is total metabolism,
gradual accumulation of body fat
DIAPAUSE
DIAPAUSE
Quiescence
• A type of irregular dormancy (non-seasonal)
1.

• Characterized by slowed metabolism & directly resulting

from un-favourable environmental conditions (low humidity
2. & high temperature)

• Doesn’t depend on endogenous control for initiation

• Controlled exogenously
3.
 MATING BEHAVIOR

Mate Location & Recognition

Males deposit packages of sperm
onto substrate though at the time no
female may be in the vicinity
Collembola
APTERYGOTES

Females find the sperm package by

chance & take them up into
reproductive tract

Droplets of sperm are placed

Thysanura on the substrate, though only
when a female is present
 MATING BEHAVIOR

Mate Location & Recognition

• Used mostly by many diurnal species
Visual • Movement, color, form and size
• Final determination by
Tactile tactile/olfactory/chemical stimuli
• Ex: Diptera, butterflies, fireflies, Coleoptera
PTERYGOTES

Olfactory • Volatile chemical attractants effect over a

considerable distance
• Pheromones produced by females
Chemical • Employed by diurnal & nocturnal species
• Ex: Lepidoptera

• Useful cues for insects living among grass

• Ex: orthoptera; Gryllidae (male produce
Auditory sounds); Acrididae (both sexes produce
sounds); male of cicadas, katydids, cricket
(sing)
 MATING BEHAVIOR

Courtship mechanism for species recognition

Visual & Tactile • Movement of adorned parts of the

stimulation body (antennae, eyestalks, wings,
ritualized movement “dancing”)
• Rubbing, stroking, grasping
COURTSHIP

• Common in Hemiptera, Orthoptera,

Acoustic
& Plecoptera
courtship
• Use long-range calling (crickets)
• Long-distance call and sing by wing
vibration (Drosophila)

Nuptial gift In predatory insects (food, chemical,

male mates cannibalization)

Secretion liquid/ Inhibiting female’s movement,

pheromone stimulating to mating position
 MATING BEHAVIOR

Sexual Selection
• male’s flash duration & size of
lantern correlated to male’s
spermatophore
fireflies • Female prefer males with longer
Sexual Selection

& larger lantern

Female bush Prefers song of younger male

cricket superior insemination

Females prefer male with large

Dung betles horns as mate defensive
capabilities
 MATING BEHAVIOR

Copulation
Indirect methods of
copulation male depositing
Apterygote spermatophore for the
COPULATION

female to pick up from the

substrate

Involves physical apposition

of male and female genitalia,
Pterygote
usually followed by
insemination (transfer of
spem via the insertion of
part of male’s penis into
female’s reproductive tract
Posterior ends of a pair of copulating milkweed bugs (Hemipter
a)
(Source: Gullan, 2010)
 MATING BEHAVIOR

Post-copulatory Behavior

Antennation/palpation of the female by the

Post-copulatory

male
Female remain passive, enabling
Feeding sperm to be evacuated from the
nuptial gift spermatophore

• Ensure complete transfer of sperm

Mate
or to enable the female to
guarding
oviposit undisturbed
• Contact behavior continued
genital contact (bugs)
• Non-contact behavior remain
close to the female (crickets, flies)
 Courtship and
mating in
Mecoptera
(by giving nuptial
gift)
Post-copulatory
behavior
(contact
behavior)
 MATING BEHAVIOR
fly Rhamphomyia nigrita (Diptera: Empididae)
Chemical Stimuli
Sex Pheromones