Summary
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1.
A pair of thermoreceptor units was identified in the sensilla coeloconica at the tip of the antennae on the mosquito,Aedes aegypti.
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2.
One thermoreceptor was warm-sensitive and responded with a phasic-tonic increase in spike frequency to sudden increases in temperature. The second thermoreceptor was coldsensitive, responding with a phasic-tonic increase in spike activity to sudden decreases in temperature.
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3.
The mean tonic spike activity of both the cold and warm receptors increased with increasing temperature to a peak of 30 imp/sec at 26‡ C for the cold receptor and 35 imp/sec at 28.5‡ C for the warm receptor. The tonic activity declined as the temperature was increased further. The maximum phasic sensitivity was observed with small temperature changes (δ T = ± 0.2‡C). This was 136 imp/sec/‡C temperature drop in the cold receptor and 130 imp/ sec/‡ C rise in the warm receptor.
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4.
The importance of temperature in the host-seeking and “attack” behavior of the mosquito is discussed.
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We thank Mr. Paul Houghton for his help in reducing the data and other technical assistance. This investigation was supported by NIH research grant number AI 10954.
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Davis, E.E., Sokolove, P.G. Temperature responses of antennal receptors of the mosquito,Aedes aegypti . J. Comp. Physiol. 96, 223–236 (1975). http://doi.org/10.1007/BF00612696
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DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/BF00612696