Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Directional and frequency characteristics of auditory receptors in midges (Diptera, Chironomidae)

  • Published:
Entomological Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Individual characteristic frequencies and directional sensitivity of the Johnston’s organ auditory receptors were measured in the midges Chironomus plumosus L. using the method of positive feedback stimulation: responses of receptors recorded with a glass microelectrode from their axons in the antennal nerve were amplified and fed to the stimulating speaker. With the amplitude and the stimulating signal phase properly adjusted, the whole feedback loop fell into auto-excitation with the frequency of oscillations close to the characteristic frequency of the receptor. Three separate groups of receptors were found with mean frequencies of 180, 221, and 264 Hz. These groups differ in their directional properties: the low-frequency receptors are mostly sensitive dorsoventrally, while the directional maxima of mid- and high-frequency ones are combined to provide equal sensitivity in the plane perpendicular to the flagellum. Our data suggest that in Chironomidae a single Johnston’s organ together with the antenna can provide spatial localization of conspecific sounds and also perform the initial stages of frequency analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Belton, P., “Trapping Mosquitoes with Sound,” Proc. Calif. Mosq. Control Assoc. 35, 98 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Daley, D.L. and Camhi, J.M., “Connectivity Pattern of the Cercal-to-Giant Interneuron System of the American Cockroach,” J. Neurophysiol. 60 (4), 1350 (1988).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Daw, N.W., “Neurophysiology of Color Vision,” Physiol. Rev. Publ. 53 (3), 571–611 (1973).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ignell, R., Dekker, T., Ghaninia, M., and Hansson, B.S., “Neuronal Architecture of the Mosquito Deutocerebrum,” J. Comp. Neurol. 493, 207–240 (2005).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kämper, G. and Vedenina, V.Yu., “Frequency-Intensity Characteristics of Cricket Cercal Interneurons: Units with High-Pass Functions,” J. Comp. Physiol. 182, 715–724 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Lakin, G.F., Biometrics (Vysshaya Shkola, Moscow, 1990) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  7. Lapshin, D.N., “Perception of Acoustic Signals by Male Midges (Diptera, Chironomidae) during Flight Simulation,” Sensornye Sistemy 24 (2), 129–138 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lapshin, D.N., “Mosquito Bioacoustics: Auditory Processing in Culex pipiens pipiens L. Males (Diptera, Culicidae) during Flight Simulation,” Entomol. Obozr. 91 (1), 36–57 (2012) [Entomol. Review 92 (6), 605 2012].

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lapshin, D.N., “Frequency Parameters of the Auditory Receptors of Non-Biting Midges (Diptera, Chironomidae),” Sensornye Sistemy 27 (1), 35–46 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lapshin, D.N. and Rozhkova, G.I., “A Device for Studying Wind-Sensitive Systems of Insects,” Sensornye Sistemy 11 (2), 168–174 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Lapshin, D.N. and Vorontsov, D.D., “Frequency Tuning of Individual Auditory Receptors in Female Mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae),” J. Ins. Physiol. 59 (8), 828 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Purves, R.D., Microelectrode Methods for Intracellular Recording and Ionophoresis (Academic Press, 1981; Mir, Moscow, 1983) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  13. Roth, L.M., “A Study of Mosquito Behavior: an Experimental Laboratory Study of the Sexual Behavior of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus),” Amer. Midl. Nat. 40, 265–352 (1948).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Rozhkova, G.I., “Directional Sensitivity of Neurons of the Cercal System of a Cricket Differently Positioned in the Gravitational Field,” Neirofiziologiya 12 (6), 604–611 (1980).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Svaetichin, G. and MacNichol, E.F., “Retinal Mechanisms for Chromatic and Achromatic Vision,” Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 74, 385–404 (1958).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Zhantiev, R.D. and Fedorova, M.V., “Fine Structure of Male Johnston's Organ in Chironomus plumosus L. (Diptera, Chironomidae),” Entomol. Obozr. 78 (2), 287–295 (1999) [Entomol. Rev. 79 (2), 148 1999].

    Google Scholar 

  17. Zhantiev, R.D., Fedorova, M.V., Chukanov, V.S., and Esipovich, N.G., “Morphofunctional Organization of the Antennae and Johnston's Organs in Non-Biting Midges (Diptera, Chironomidae),” Sensornye Sistemy 15 (1), 73–84 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 127994, Russia

    D. N. Lapshin

Authors
  1. D. N. Lapshin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. N. Lapshin.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © D.N. Lapshin, 2015, published in Entomologicheskoe Obozrenie, 2015, Vol. 94, No. 4, pp. 761–776.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lapshin, D.N. Directional and frequency characteristics of auditory receptors in midges (Diptera, Chironomidae). Entmol. Rev. 95, 1155–1165 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1134/S001387381509002X

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S001387381509002X

Keywords

Search

Navigation