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Sensitivity to chemically diverse phagostimulants in a single gustatory neuron of a polyphagous caterpillar

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Abstract

Caterpillars of the arctiid moth, Grammia geneura, are polyphagous, but species of Plantago are amongst their preferred food plants. A neuron in the medial styloconic sensillum on the galea has been shown to have a general phagostimulatory function. Experiments with binary mixtures and cross-adaptation have demonstrated that it responds to some sugars, to several amino acids, and also to catalpol. Catalpol is a plant secondary compound in Plantago and a phagostimulant for the caterpillars. The possible significance of combining sensitivity to nutrient compounds with sensitivity to a secondary compound is discussed.

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Accepted: 7 October 1999

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Bernays, E., Chapman, R. & Singer, M. Sensitivity to chemically diverse phagostimulants in a single gustatory neuron of a polyphagous caterpillar. J Comp Physiol A 186, 13–19 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003590050002

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003590050002

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