Morphological and electrophysiological mapping of tarsal chemoreceptors of oviposition-deterring pheromone in Rhagoletis pomonella flies

Light microscopy and S.E.M. observations revealed that Rhagoletis pomonella female tarsi, bearing the principal receptors of oviposition-deterring fruit marking pheromone (ODP), have 3 types of chemosensilla: B, C and D. Using electrophysiological hair tip-recording techniques, we found that D chemosensilla located in pairs on distal ventrolateral portions of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th tarsomeres of each leg were highly sensitive to stimulation by the pheromone. D chemosensilla located in pairs on the 5th tarsomere of each leg were moderately sensitive to the pheromone, while the B and C chemosensilla of all tarsi were nearly or completely insensitive to it. For reasons discussed, the D chemosensilla on the prothoracic tarsi may be the most important in providing sensory input eliciting oviposition deterrence.