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Electrophysiological characterization of the multipolar thermoreceptors in the "fire-beetle" Merimna atrata and comparison with the infrared sensilla of Melanophila acuminata (both Coleoptera, Buprestidae)

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Abstract

A thermosensitive multipolar neuron innervates each of the four abdominal receptors of the Australian buprestid beetle Merimna atrata. The neuron is spontaneously active within a broad range of body temperatures (tested between 10°C and 40°C). We heated the receptors with a red diode laser (λ=0.66 µm) at intensities ranging from 5.3 mW cm−2 up to 1.3 W cm−2. In general, warming caused an increase of receptor activity. Peak discharge frequencies were reached 100–300 ms after onset of irradiation. After peak frequencies were reached, distinct adaptation took place within seconds. A linear increase in irradiation intensity caused an exponential increase in peak frequencies. Lowest threshold was found to be at 40 mW cm−2 where latencies were 47 ms. At the highest intensity tested (1.3 W cm−2), peak frequencies increased up to about 300 Hz and latencies decreased to 24 ms. Considering the pyrophilous behaviour of Merimna and the morphological data from previous studies, our results support the hypothesis that the abdominal receptors are infrared receptors. We also recorded the responses of the photomechanic infrared sensilla of Melanophila acuminata under the same experimental conditions. These results show that the photomechanic sensillum of Melanophila has a higher sensitivity, and that the latencies are considerably shorter.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Horst Bleckmann, Joachim Mogdans, Steven F. Perry, Anke Schmitz and an anonymous referee for helpful discussion and improvement of earlier drafts of the manuscript. Karl-Heinz Apel supplied us with burnt wood infested with the larvae of Melanophila acuminata. Eva Kreiss and Anne Wyen helped us with some of the experiments. Manfred Mürtz kindly loaned the powermeter for the power measurement of the laser. The Fire Management Services Branch of the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) in Western Australia enabled us to work on freshly burnt areas. The Wildlife Branch from CALM issued the permit to collect Merimna atrata (Permit No. SF003670). Supported by a grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA; F49620-01-1-0476). The experiments comply with the Principles of animal care publication No. 85-23, revised 1985, of the National Institute of Health and also with the laws of Germany (Tierschutzgesetz).

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Schmitz, H., Trenner, S. Electrophysiological characterization of the multipolar thermoreceptors in the "fire-beetle" Merimna atrata and comparison with the infrared sensilla of Melanophila acuminata (both Coleoptera, Buprestidae). J Comp Physiol A 189, 715–722 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-003-0447-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-003-0447-6

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