Developmental mechanism of hair-like scales related seasonal adaptation in some butterflie

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26450469
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Insect science
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: Yamanaka Akira 山口大学, 創成科学研究科, 教授 (20274152)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 毛状鱗粉 / 季節型 / チョウ類 / 季節適応 / 夏型ホルモン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To confirm whether the hair-like scales on the wings or legs of adults exhibit a seasonal plasticity or not, the effect of temperature and photoperiod during the larval and pupal stages on the hair-like scales was investigated. The number of hair-like scales on each wing or leg of SD-adults was much greater than that of LD-adults, whereas the mean length of hair-like scales of adults subjected to lower temperature conditions was longer than that of adults treated with higher temperature conditions. In order to investigate whether the hormonal factor (maybe SMPH) affecting the regulatory mechanism of hair-like scales on the wings or legs exists in the brain, brain extracts were injected into the abdomen of SD-pupae in three species. The number of hair-like scales in wings or legs in each species decreased significantly in comparison to that of control animals. These results suggested that SMPH which regulates the development of hair-like scales and seasonal morphs existed in the brain.

Free Research Field

昆虫生理学