Insect Chemoreception

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. Introduction and Overview

   Pages 1-24

3. Fundamental Aspects

   1. Plant Chemicals

      Pages 27-72

   2. Pheromones

      Pages 73-112

   3. The Chemoreceptive Organs: Structural Aspects

      Pages 113-139

   4. Electrophysiology of Chemoreception

      Pages 140-173

   5. Biochemistry of Chemoreception

      Pages 174-189

4. Applied Aspects

   1. Plant Chemicals in Pest Control

      Pages 193-222

   2. Host Plant Resistance

      Pages 223-255

   3. Pheromones in Plant Protection

      Pages 256-279

   4. Genetic Engineering

      Pages 280-306

5. Back Matter

   Pages 307-330

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In this time of edited volumes when the list of individual contributors may reach double figures, it is appropriate to question the usefulness of a volume, with such a broad scope, by a single author. The answer is simple. For years he has believed that the rather sharp distinction between fundamental and applied aspects of this discipline, has ill-served the significance of each; and has diminished the incidence of fruitful synergies. Yet the need for these was never greater, and this case may be developed by a single author with experience of each aspect. The inclusion of a Chapter on Genetic Engineering may raise some doubts, but it is enabled by the chosen title “Chemoreception”, as distinct from Chemoperception: the latter implies detection of a chemical, followed by a behavioural response. But the former broader category subsumes Chemoperception and allows for the reception of a chemical toxin so potent as to prelude a behavioural or physiological response, other than death. Accordingly, chemical toxins are a legitimate inclusion. In which event, their delivery through a GM plant is as appropriate for study as their application in a spray.

• development
• ecology
• genetic engineering
• insect
• physiology
• plant
• plant protection
• receptor

• Department of Zoology, University College Dublin, USA

  Michael F. Ryan

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