Electroreception in treehoppers: How extreme morphologies can increase electrical sensitivity

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: England, Sam J.; Palmer, Ryan A.; O'Reilly, Liam J.; Chenchiah, Isaac, V; Robert, Daniel
• 署名单位: University of West England; University of Bristol; Leibniz Institut fur Evolutions und Biodiversitatsforschung; University of Bristol; University of Bristol
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-10096
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2505253122
• 发表日期: 2025-07-21
• 关键词: umbonia-crassicornis homoptera; membracid pronotum homoptera; sensory drive; ecological specialization; predation risk; DEFENSE; hairs; ants; hemiptera; BEHAVIOR

摘要

The link between form and function of an organism's morphology is usually apparent or intuitive. However, some clades of organisms show remarkable diversity in their form, often exhibiting extreme morphologies, but with no obvious functional explanation. Treehoppers (Membracidae) are a family of insects that exemplify this, displaying an astounding morphological diversity, resulting in a plethora of extreme forms. The function of these morphological extremities and the reasons for their evolution have thus far remained largely enigmatic. However, this mystery can be considered in light of the capacity of many animals to detect electric fields in air via electrostatic actuation of mechanosensory structures on their body. Importantly, the strength of the electric field experienced by these mechanosensory structures is expected by physics to depend on the animal's geometry, with sharp and elongated features producing the highest electric fields. Therefore, we hypothesize that the extreme morphologies of treehoppers increase their electrical sensitivity. Here, we show that treehoppers, along with their predators and mutualists, produce electric fields and that the treehopper Poppea capricornis can detect electric fields, responding behaviorally. We also demonstrate that predatory wasps and mutualist bees differ significantly in their electrostatic profiles, pointing to the sophistication of electrical information potentially available to treehoppers. Biophysical, computational, and mathematical techniques are then utilized to provide evidence that the pronotum of treehoppers is the site of electroreception and that its extreme shapes may enhance its sensitivity to electricity.