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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2013

C. Eby ,
M. Weis ,
M.G.T. Gardiner ,
G.J.R. Judd  and
G. Gries
C. Eby
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6
M. Weis
Affiliation:
Pacific Agri-food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, 4200 Highway 97, Summerland, British Columbia, Canada V0H 1Z0
M.G.T. Gardiner
Affiliation:
Pacific Agri-food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, 4200 Highway 97, Summerland, British Columbia, Canada V0H 1Z0
G.J.R. Judd
Affiliation:
Pacific Agri-food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, 4200 Highway 97, Summerland, British Columbia, Canada V0H 1Z0
G. Gries*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: [email protected]).
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Abstract

The apple clearwing moth, Synanthedon myopaeformis (Borkhausen) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), is a day-flying species that feeds on floral nectar of many plants. In British Columbia, Canada, this invasive moth is often observed feeding on visually conspicuous showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa Torrey (Apocynaceae). We measured the spectral efficiency of the compound eyes of S. myopaeformis in the context of their capacity to discriminate the measured spectral reflectance from inflorescences of A. speciosa, and conducted histological examination of these eyes to determine whether they possess apposition type ommatidia, as commonly observed in diurnal butterflies. Light micrographs of the compound eyes in S. myopaeformis revealed eucone apposition type ommatidia, which is consistent with the diurnal behaviour of the moth. Electroretinograms on compound eyes revealed they were particularly efficient at absorbing ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths in the 335–370 nm range and green wavelengths in the 495–560 nm range. These results support the conclusion that the compound eyes of S. myopaeformis have the capacity for dichromatic vision based on UV and green photoreceptors. However, spectral reflectance curves obtained from inflorescences and foliage of A. speciosa revealed no evidence of UV reflectance, making it less likely that colour plays a primary role in the attraction of S. myopaeformis to A. speciosa.

Résumé

La sésie du pommier, Synanthedon myopaeformis (Borkhausen) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) est une espèce qui vole de jour et se nourrit du nectar floral de plusieurs plantes. En Colombie-Britannique, Canada, ce papillon envahissant est souvent observé en train de se nourrir sur la belle asclépiade, Asclepias speciosa Torrey (Apocynaceae), une plante très voyante. Nous avons mesuré l'efficacité spectrale des yeux composés de S. myopaeformis en ce qui a trait à leur capacité à reconnaître la réflectance spectrale mesurée à partir des inflorescences d’A. speciosa et nous avons procédé à un examen histologique des yeux afin de déterminer s'ils possèdent une vision par apposition, comme on l'observe souvent chez les ommatidies des papillons diurnes. Des micrographies au microscope photonique des yeux composés de S. myopaeformis montrent que les ommatidies sont de type eucone et fonctionnent par apposition, ce qui est compatible avec le comportement diurne de l'insecte. Des électrorétinogrammes des yeux composés montrent qu'ils sont particulièrement efficaces pour absorber les longueurs d'ondes ultraviolettes (UV) dans le domaine spectral de 335–370 nm et les vertes dans celui de 495–560 nm. Ces résultats appuient la conclusion selon laquelle les yeux composés de S. myopaeformis ont la capacité d'une vision dichromatique basée sur des photorécepteurs dans l'UV et le vert. Cependant les courbes de réflectance obtenues des inflorescences et du feuillage d’A. speciosa ne montrent aucun indice de réflectance UV, ce qui rend improbable que la couleur joue un rôle majeur dans l'attirance de S.myopaeformis pour A. speciosa.

Type
Behaviour & Ecology
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 145 , Issue 5 , October 2013 , pp. 529 - 538
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2013 

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