夜行性昆虫微光视觉行为及其视觉适应机制

作为昆虫种群的重要组成部分,夜行性昆虫成功进化出了与其生存环境相适应的感觉机制,普遍认为夜行性昆虫主要依靠嗅觉和机械性感受等来探索环境,其视觉器官发生了退化或功能丧失.近年来,随着红外夜视、视网膜电位(electroretinogram,ERG)和视觉神经等生物新技术的应用,昆虫视觉生态学研究出现了突破性进展,自200...

Dim-light vision and the mechanisms of visual adaptation in nocturnal insects

As an important part of insects, nocturnal species have evolved some sensory mechanisms adapted to their habitats. It is generally believed that nocturnal insects mainly rely on olfaction and mechanical perception to explore habitats, and the visual system has been degraded or lost. In recent years, with the application of new biological technologies such as infrared night vision, electroretinogram (ERG) and optic nerve, breakthroughs have been made in visual and ecological research of insects. Since 2002, it has been successively found that some nocturnal insects such as moths, bees and dung beetles had evolved a remarkable capacity of dim light vision, and can see brightness, color, shape, size, contrast, polarized light and motion at night (light intensity lower than 0.3 lx) as in bright day, showing an immense potential for visually regulating behaviors in nocturnal insects. In addition, the pupil, focal length, rod and pigment particles of compound eyes of these nocturnal insects have evolved some morphological and physiological characteristics to improve the optical sensitivity and to adapt to the dim-light environment at night. Since the study of dim-light vision and the mechanisms of visual adaptation in nocturnal insects is still in its infancy with a focus on flower-visiting or fecal-feeding insects, the research of the following aspects should be streagthened: (1) the dim-light vision in major nocturnal agricultural pests; (2) the optical structure characteristics of atypical superposition compound eye and the mechanisms of its adaptation to dim-light environment; (3) the mechanisms of visual adaptation in nocturnal insects in response to dim-light environment; and (4) the development of new pest control technology based on dim-light vision in nocturnal insects.