An inside look at the sensory biology of triatomines

BARROZO, RB; REISENMAN, C; GUERENSTEIN, P; LAZZARI, CL; LORENZO, MG

JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2017 vol. 97 p. 3 - 19

0022-1910

Although kissingbugs (Triatominae: Reduviidae) are perhaps best known as vectors of Chagas disease,they are important experimental models in studies of insect sensory physiology,pioneered by the seminal studies of Wigglesworth and Gillet more than eightyyears ago. Since then, many investigations have revealed that the thermal,hygric, visual and olfactory senses play critical roles in the orientation ofthese blood-sucking insects towards hosts. Here we review the current knowledgeabout the role of these sensory systems, focussing on relevant stimuli, sensorystructures, receptor physiology and the molecular players involved in thecomplex and cryptic behavioural repertoire of these nocturnal insects. Odoursare particularly relevant, as they are involved in host search and are used forsexual, aggregation and alarm communication. Tastants are critical for a properrecognition of hosts, food and conspecifics. Heat and relative humidity mediateorientation towards hosts and are also important for the selection of resting places.Vision, which mediates negative phototaxis and flight dispersion, is also criticalfor modulating shelter use and mediating escape responses. The molecular bases underlyingthe detection of sensory stimuli started to be uncovered by means of functionalgenetics due to both the recent publication of the genome sequence of Rhodniusprolixus and the availability of modern genome editing techniques.