Belušič G, Šporar K, Meglič A. Extreme polarisation sensitivity in the retina of the corn borer moth
Ostrinia.
ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017;
220:2047-2056. [PMID:
28341662 DOI:
10.1242/jeb.153718]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The visual system of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) was analysed with microscopy and electrophysiological methods (electroretinograms and single-cell recordings). Ostrinia nubilalis has a pair of mainly ultraviolet-sensitive ocelli and a pair of compound eyes, maximally sensitive to green light. The ommatidia contain a tiered, fused rhabdom, consisting of the rhabdomeres of 9-12 photoreceptor cells with sensitivity peak wavelengths at 356, 413, 480 and 530 nm. The photoreceptors in a large dorsal rim area have straight rhabdomeres and high polarisation sensitivity (PS1,2=3.4, 14). Elsewhere, in the main retina, the majority of photoreceptors have non-aligned microvilli and negligible PS, but each ommatidium contains one or two blue-sensitive distal photoreceptors with straight microvilli parallel to the dorsoventral axis, yielding extremely high PS (PS1,2,3=56, 63, 316). Rhabdoms containing distal cells with potentially high PS have evolved at least twice: in moths (Crambidae, Noctuidae, Saturniidae), as well as in dung beetles (Scarabaeidae). The distal photoreceptors with high PS, sensitive to vertically polarised light, represent a monopolatic system, which is unsuitable for the proper analysis of electric field vector (e-vector) orientation. However, the distal photoreceptors might be used in conjunction with polarisation-insensitive photoreceptors to detect objects that reflect polarised light with stereotyped orientation.
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