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Electrophysiological response of honey bee labial palp contact chemoreceptors to sugars and electrolytes
Author(s) -
WHITEHEAD ARMAND T.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
physiological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-3032
pISSN - 0307-6962
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3032.1978.tb00153.x
Subject(s) - sucrose , fructose , chemoreceptor , biology , sugar , carbohydrate , botany , biochemistry , food science , receptor
. The sensilla chaetica on segments II, III and IV of honey‐bee labial palps were investigated electrophysiologically. The responses (spikes/s) correlated with the log of the concentrations of sucrose, glucose, fructose, NaCl, KCl and LiCl, but not with CaCl 2 or MgCl 2 , which gave inconsistent responses. The firing rates were higher and thresholds lower to the sugars than to the electrolytes. The sensitivity of the segments fell in the order: III > II > IV for most of the stimulants, which elicited responses in the order: sucrose > glucose = fructose’ KCl > LiCl > NaCl. The sensilla adapted logarithmically with time. No synergism of response was noted when mixed‐sugar solutions were applied, but inhibition of response was seen when glucose–sucrose, fructose–sucrose, and glucose–fructose–sucrose mixtures were applied. None of the sensilla tested responded to water.