Inhibition of serotonergic signaling induces higher consumption of both sucrose solution and toxic baits in carpenter ants

GIACOMETTI, ALINA; JOSENS, ROXANA; GIURFA, MARTIN

Scientific Reports

Springer Nature

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2021 vol. 11

Biogenic amines play an important role in the regulation of appetitive responses in insects. Among them, serotonin (5-HT) regulates feeding-related processes in numerous insect species. In carpenter ants, 5-HT administration has been shown to depress feeding behavior, thus opening the possibility of using 5-HT modulation in control strategies against those species considered as pest. Here we studied if administration of a 5-HT antagonist, ketanserin, promotes feeding of a sucrose solution and a toxic bait in carpenter ants Camponotus mus. We found that 3 h after a single oral administration of ketanserin, the mass of sucrose solution consumed by carpenter ants increased signifcantly. A similar efect was found after a chronic administration that lasted 5 days. Yet, ketanserin did neither afect the intake rates nor the activity of the pharyngeal pump that mediates feeding dynamics. In addition, ketanserin promoted the consumption of a toxic bait based on boric acid. Our results thus show that feeding motivation and consumption of both sucrose solution and a toxic bait can be enhanced via prior administration of ketanserin. We discuss the possible mechanisms underlying these efects and conclude that understanding basic physiological and neural principles that underlie feeding motivation allows establishing more efcient control strategies for pest insects.