I am doing electroantennography on a moth species (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Since moths are mostly active at sunset, are there any studies about the variations in moth antennal sensitivity during different times of the day? Will the antennae detached from the moth perform differently according to the time of the day? Thank you in advance
Well, It depend which species you choose for your study and particularly on which compound. If you desire to find out volatile substance response then their resting period is more favorable but in case of Al can or fatty acid response depend not only time but their feeding or non feeding condition. ............. I thing host plant interaction mostly a trial and error process. My kind suggestion keep your sample on study on both time dawn and dusk.
Thank you for the advice! Yes, I'm testing the antennal response to plant volatile compounds. Fine, I will try and do EAG on both times and compare the results. As you wrote: trial and error...
Difficult to answer in specific terms due to the nature of the topic.
As has already been noted - this will be a species specific response. I may be able to reply better knowing which tortricid species is involved in your research. If you haven't yet found it, there is a good website available for pheromones - http://www.pherobase.com/ - where you should find a species specific pheromone list for the taxon being investigated, though this pertains primarily to sexual attractant pheromones (which is the principle function of the antennae, so far as I'm aware).
As to flight times, this will again be species specific. Many Tortricidae species are diurnal, or nocturnal, not only crepuscular. Read up as much as possible on the known ecology of the taxon under investigation. Some of the old (19th century) literature may be of use if the species concerned occurs in the UK.
As to your second question - the only way to answer this is to undertake analysis for different times of day! You have set your working hypothesis ;) Perhaps the more intriguing question would be to investigate if a detached antenna responds in the same manner as antennae on a live moth (real world scenario).
Whatever the potential answers - I trust you know how to rear sufficient individuals of the species to get a statistically valid set of data.
Hope this helps.
Thank you, Roger.
I already know the pherobase website, I use it often for finding literature. I also know that my moths belong to the genus Pandemis, and I have found literature from 1990 writing that they are active around dusk.
But the real question is still if the antennae on their own are more active in the periods when the moth is more active!! Well, I will found out soon :-)
You're welcome, Valentino.
Sterling, Parsons & Lewington, 2012, give the following on Pandemis species in the UK
P. corylana - "readily disturbed by day and comes to light" (i.e. active at night)
P. cerasana - "flies at dusk and comes to light"
P. cinnamomeana - "comes to light"
P. heparana - "readily disturbed by day, flies at dusk and comes to light"
P. dumetana - "flies from sunset and comes to light"
Sterling, P., Parsons, M. & Lewington, R., 2012. Field Guide to the Micromoths of Great Britain and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing, Gillingham, Dorset. 416 pp.
http://www.britishwildlife.com/viewbook.asp?bookid=24
I think currently not enough information is available to support diel periodicity dependent antennae response. In my experience, antennae responses of some crepuscular tortricid moths were same in morning or at dusk.
Thank you, Dr. Cha, I will take that into account.
Anyway, in one month I will have my own experimental results..
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