COLOUR VISION IN CURRANT CLEARWING MOTH (SYNANTHEDON TIPULIFORMIS) (LEPIDOPTERA: SESIIDAE)

Abstract

Males of the currant clearwing moth (Synanthedon tipuliformis) preferred yellow and green pheromone-baited traps. Electrophysiological and behavioural experiments were conducted to determine whether this phenomenon was caused by the ability of currant clearwing moths to discriminate colours and their preference for some of them. The electroretinogram (ERG) study revealed 2 sensitivity peaks in the dark adapted eye: in the UV zone (λ max = 350 nm) and in the green zone (λ max = 500 nm). According to the ERG data on the bright orange adapted eye, the latter peak might be the sum response of the blue receptor with λ max ~ 470 nm and the green receptor with λ max ~ 530 nm. In field experiments with traps of equal contrast against the background but different in colour, light-yellow traps were significantly more attractive, providing evidence, that S. tipuliformis moths possess colour vision and use it while reacting to the female sex pheromone. Although it was proved that currant clearwing moths are able to perceive the UV-colour, the addition of the UV-colour did not affect attractiveness of traps.

Spectral efficiency and microstructure of the compound eyes ofSynanthedon myopaeformis(Lepidoptera: Sesiidae)

“…Eyes of S. myopaeformis were most efficient at detecting UV and green wavelengths, implying their potential for dichromatic vision. The potential for dichromatic vision has been found in diverse insect taxa, including the cockroach Periplana americana (Linnaeus) (Blattodea: Blattidae) (Mote and Goldsmith 1970), the owlfly, Libelloides macaronius (Scopoli) (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae) (Gogala 1967), several species of ants (Menzel 1973; Mote and Wehner 1980; Lieke 1981), the moth Synanthedon tipuliformis (Clerk) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) (Karalius and Būda 2007), and the butterfly Parantica sita (Kollar) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) (Eguchi et al 1982). In most other Lepidoptera, however, three photoreceptors (UV, blue, and green) are more common, with some species even possessing a fourth, red receptor (reviewed by Briscoe and Chittka 2001).…”

Spectral discrimination by Synanthedon myopaeformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) when orienting to traps baited with sex pheromone or feeding attractants

“…1A). Even though their electrophysiological data showed no peak sensitivity to blue wavelengths, Karalius and Būda (2007) argued with some justification, that S. tipuliformis likely has ultraviolet-blue-green trichromatic vision.…”

“…1A), argues against general brightness as a limiting factor in pheromone trap catches. The most likely explanation for these results is that S. myopaeformis , like S. tipuliformis (Karalius and Būda 2007), probably has blue sensitive photoreceptors that enable discrimination of all-white and all-yellow unitraps using differences in their blue-green spectral compositions (Fig. 3A).…”

“…Discrimination by S. myopaeformis among the coloured delta traps tested is consistent with electroretinograms from their compound eyes (Eby et al 2013b). Like Synanthedon tipuliformis Clerck (Karalius and Būda 2007), compound eyes in S. myopaeformis have two distinct peaks of sensitivity, one in the green region (500–550 nm) and another in the ultraviolet region (300–400 nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum. This indicates both species likely have at least two photoreceptors and the potential for ultraviolet – green dichromatic vision (Kelber 2006).…”

Evaluation of synthetic sex pheromone for monitoring and management of raspberry crown borer Pennisetia marginata (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae)

“…Trap attributes, including type, colour and placement in the plant canopy, can affect moth capture in pheromone‐baited traps. For sesiids, the optimal trap colour and trap type varies by species (Yonce et al ., ; Stüber & Dickler, ; Rocchini et al ., ; Suckling et al ., ; Brown et al ., ; Karalius & Buda, ; Weihman & Liburd, ; Roubos & Liburd, ; Cottrell et al ., ). Captures of beneficial and nontarget insects (i.e.…”