Insect-Microorganism Interaction Has Implicates on Insect Olfactory Systems

Abstract

Olfaction plays an essential role in various insect behaviors, including habitat selection, access to food, avoidance of predators, inter-species communication, aggregation, and reproduction. The olfactory process involves integrating multiple signals from external conditions and internal physiological states, including living environments, age, physiological conditions, and circadian rhythms. As microorganisms and insects form tight interactions, the behaviors of insects are constantly challenged by versatile microorganisms via olfactory cues. To better understand the microbial influences on insect behaviors via olfactory cues, this paper summarizes three different ways in which microorganisms modulate insect behaviors. Here, we deciphered three interesting aspects of microorganisms-contributed olfaction: (1) How do volatiles emitted by microorganisms affect the behaviors of insects? (2) How do microorganisms reshape the behaviors of insects by inducing changes in the synthesis of host volatiles? (3) How do symbiotic microorganisms act on insects by modulating behaviors?

Keywords: insect behavior; insect olfactory; microorganism-insect interactions; the olfactory system.

Figure 1

Microorganisms modulate insect behaviors via olfactory cues by different ways. 1 Fungal and bacterial volatiles that directly alter insect behaviors through olfaction. 2 The microorganism-induced changes in host volatiles alter insect behaviors through olfaction. 3 Symbiotic microorganisms regulate olfaction in insects.