Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Colour vision in thrips (Thysanoptera)

Lopez-Reyes, Karla LU ; Armstrong, Karen F. ; Van Tol, Robert W.H.M. ; Teulon, David A.J. and Bok, Michael J. LU (2022) In Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 377(1862).
Abstract

Insects are an astonishingly successful and diverse group, occupying the gamut of habitats and lifestyle niches. They represent the vast majority of described species and total terrestrial animal biomass on the planet. Their success is in part owed to their sophisticated visual systems, including colour vision, which drive a variety of complex behaviours. However, the majority of research on insect vision has focused on only a few model organisms including flies, honeybees and butterflies. Especially understudied are phytophagous insects, such as diminutive thrips (Thysanoptera), in spite of their damage to agriculture. Thrips display robust yet variable colour-specific responses despite their miniaturized eyes, but little is known... (More)

Insects are an astonishingly successful and diverse group, occupying the gamut of habitats and lifestyle niches. They represent the vast majority of described species and total terrestrial animal biomass on the planet. Their success is in part owed to their sophisticated visual systems, including colour vision, which drive a variety of complex behaviours. However, the majority of research on insect vision has focused on only a few model organisms including flies, honeybees and butterflies. Especially understudied are phytophagous insects, such as diminutive thrips (Thysanoptera), in spite of their damage to agriculture. Thrips display robust yet variable colour-specific responses despite their miniaturized eyes, but little is known about the physiological and ecological basis of their visual systems. Here, we review the known visual behavioural information about thrips and the few physiological studies regarding their eyes. Eye structure, spectral sensitivity, opsin genes and the presence of putative colour filters in certain ommatidia strongly imply dynamic visual capabilities. Finally, we discuss the major gaps in knowledge that remain for a better understanding of the visual system of thrips and why bridging these gaps is important for expanding new possibilities for applied pest management strategies for these tiny insects. This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding colour vision: molecular, physiological, neuronal and behavioural studies in arthropods'.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
behaviour, colour response, eyes, pest control, photoreceptors, visual ecology
in
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
volume
377
issue
1862
article number
20210282
publisher
Royal Society Publishing
external identifiers
  • pmid:36058245
  • scopus:85137243924
ISSN
0962-8436
DOI
10.1098/rstb.2021.0282
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bca02afd-69ee-4965-a7d4-d4adcf49d234
date added to LUP
2022-10-17 09:08:39
date last changed
2024-04-18 05:35:55
@article{bca02afd-69ee-4965-a7d4-d4adcf49d234,
  abstract     = {{<p>Insects are an astonishingly successful and diverse group, occupying the gamut of habitats and lifestyle niches. They represent the vast majority of described species and total terrestrial animal biomass on the planet. Their success is in part owed to their sophisticated visual systems, including colour vision, which drive a variety of complex behaviours. However, the majority of research on insect vision has focused on only a few model organisms including flies, honeybees and butterflies. Especially understudied are phytophagous insects, such as diminutive thrips (Thysanoptera), in spite of their damage to agriculture. Thrips display robust yet variable colour-specific responses despite their miniaturized eyes, but little is known about the physiological and ecological basis of their visual systems. Here, we review the known visual behavioural information about thrips and the few physiological studies regarding their eyes. Eye structure, spectral sensitivity, opsin genes and the presence of putative colour filters in certain ommatidia strongly imply dynamic visual capabilities. Finally, we discuss the major gaps in knowledge that remain for a better understanding of the visual system of thrips and why bridging these gaps is important for expanding new possibilities for applied pest management strategies for these tiny insects. This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding colour vision: molecular, physiological, neuronal and behavioural studies in arthropods'.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lopez-Reyes, Karla and Armstrong, Karen F. and Van Tol, Robert W.H.M. and Teulon, David A.J. and Bok, Michael J.}},
  issn         = {{0962-8436}},
  keywords     = {{behaviour; colour response; eyes; pest control; photoreceptors; visual ecology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  number       = {{1862}},
  publisher    = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
  series       = {{Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences}},
  title        = {{Colour vision in thrips (Thysanoptera)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2021.0282}},
  doi          = {{10.1098/rstb.2021.0282}},
  volume       = {{377}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}