Is the Sex Communication of Two Pyralid Moths, Plodia interpunctella and Ephestia kuehniella, under Circadian Clock Regulation?

Radka Zavodska, Silvie Fexova, Germund von Wowern, Gui-Biao Han, David Dolezel, Ivo Sauman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Females of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, and females of the Mediterranean flour month, Ephestia kuehniella (both Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), exhibit daily rhythms in calling behavior. The peak in P. interpunctella calling occurs at dusk, whereas E. kuehniella calls preferentially at dawn. This behavior turned arrhythmic in P. interpunctella females in constant darkness (DD) and remained arrhythmic in constant light (LL), whereas E. kuehniella females showed a persistent rhythm in DD and suppression of the behavior in LL, indicating regulation by a circadian clock mechanism. The rhythm of male locomotor activity corresponded well with the sexual activity of females, reaching the peak at dusk in P. interpunctella and at dawn in E. kuehniella. An immunohistochemical study of the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, corazonin, and pigment dispersing factor revealed distinct sets of neurons in the brain-subesophageal complex and in the neurohemal organs of the 2 species.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)206-216
JournalJournal of Biological Rhythms
Volume27
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Bibliographical note

The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Chemical Ecology/Ecotoxicology (Closed 2011) (011006020)

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Ecology

Free keywords

  • pyralid moth
  • sex communication
  • circadian rhythm
  • pheromone
  • biosynthesis activating neuropeptide
  • corazonin
  • pigment dispersing
  • hormone

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