Skip to main content
Log in

Hygro- and thermoreceptive triad in antennal sensillum of the stick insect,Carausius morosus

  • Published:
Journal of comparative physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The receptor cells in a poreless sensillum on the antenna ofCarausius morosus were examined electrophysiologically. Two of the units are antagonistic regarding humidity, one responding with an increase in impulse frequency to rising humidity (moistair unit) and the other to falling humidity (dry-air unit). Another reacts to falling temperature with a rise in impulse frequency (cold unit). In some cases responses from a fourth unit were also present. Its modality is uncertain. A method of marking the sensillum with a cactus needle for subsequent structural examination after recording is described.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altner, H.: Insektensensillen: Bau- und Funktionsprinzipien. Verh. Dtsch. Zool. Ges.70, 139–153 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Altner, H., Sass, H., Altner, L.: Relationship between structure and function of antennal chemo-, hygro-, and thermoreceptive sensilla inPeriplaneta americana. Cell Tiss. Res.176, 389–405 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Altner, H., Tichy, H., Altner, L.: Lamellated outer dendritic segments of a sensory cell within a thermo- and hygroreceptive sensillum of the insect,Carausius morosus. Cell Tiss. Res.191, 287–304 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barth, F.G.: Sensory information from strains in the exoskeleton. In: The insect integument. Hepburn, H.R. (ed.), pp. 445–473. Amsterdam, Oxford, New York: Elsevier 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbière-Tichané, G.: Sur la présence possible d'un pigment visuel dans un récepteur sensoriel de l'antenne d'un coléoptère cavernicoleSpeophyes lucidulus Delar. (Bathysciinae). Vision Res.14, 819–822 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffal, K.P., Tichy, H., Theiß, J., Seelinger, G.: Structural polarities in mechanosensitive sensilla and their influence on stimulus transmission. Zoomorphologie82, 79–103 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Loftus, R.: Cold receptor on the antenna ofPeriplaneta americana. Z. Vergl. Physiol.52, 380–385 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Loftus, R.: The response of the antennal cold receptor ofPeriplaneta americana to rapid temperature changes and to steady temperature. Z. Vergl. Physiol.59, 413–455 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Loftus, R.: Temperature-dependent dry receptor on antenna ofPeriplaneta. Tonic response. J. Comp. Physiol.111, 153–170 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Loftus, R.: Peripheral thermal receptors. In: Sensory ecology. Ali, M.A. (ed.), pp. 439–466. New York: Plenum Publishing Co. 1978

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaller, D.: Sensory system ofPeriplaneta americana L.: Distribution and frequency of morphologically different sensillum types and their sex-specific changes during postembryonic development. Cell Tiss. Res.191, 121–139 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thurm, U.: An insect mechanoreceptor. Part I: Fine structure and adequate stimulus. Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol.30, 75–82 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldow, U.: Elektrophysiologische Untersuchungen an Feuchte-, Trocken- und Kälterezeptoren auf der Antenne der WanderheuschreckeLocusta. Z. Vergl. Physiol.69, 249–283 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yokohari, F.: Hygroreceptor mechanism in the antenna of the cockroachPeriplaneta. J. Comp. Physiol.124, 53–60 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and by the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung in Österreich

I wish to express my gratitude to Prof. Dr. F. Schaller and to Prof. Dr. H. Altner for their support of this study, to Dr. R. Loftus for very valuable discussion, and to Ms. C. Danner for her technical assistance.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tichy, H. Hygro- and thermoreceptive triad in antennal sensillum of the stick insect,Carausius morosus . J. Comp. Physiol. 132, 149–152 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00610718

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00610718

Keywords

Navigation