Comparative analysis of pheromone blend divergence in heliothine moths
LE3 .A278 2015
2015
Hillier, Kirk
Acadia University
Master of Science
Masters
Biology
Insects use sex pheromones as an essential means of sexual communication. Stabilizing selection is proposed to optimize sex pheromone blends within a population; with the most commonly produced pheromone blend being detected by olfactory systems narrowly tuned to detecting that blend. Different species of female heliothine moths (Noctuidae: Heliothinae) release similar sex pheromone components in different ratios to create species-specific pheromone blends. This study examined the potential role of pheromones in heliothine species divergence. Comparative examination of pheromone blend composition of four heliothine species revealed subtle differences in pheromone blend composition produced by both males and females. Neuroanatomical investigations confirmed previously documented descriptions of male Heliothis and Helicoverpa antennal lobe anatomy and provided the first description of H. punctigera anatomy. Electrophysiological testing demonstrated broad antennal neuron response in both males and females to eight stimuli, with sexual dimorphism present in each species. These results are discussed in the context of potential divergence points along the pheromone communication pathway and the role of pheromone compounds in species isolation.
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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:414