Infrared radiation from hot cones on cool conifers attracts seed-feeding insects
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| Authors: | Takacs, S; Bottomley, H; Andreller, I; Zaradnik, T; Schwarz, J; Bennett, R; Strong, W; Gries, G |
| Year: | 2009 |
| Journal: | Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 276: 649-655 PDF Article Link (DOI) |
| Title: | Infrared radiation from hot cones on cool conifers attracts seed-feeding insects |
| Abstract: | Foraging animals use diverse cues to locate resources. Common foraging cues have visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile or gustatory characteristics. Here, we show a foraging herbivore using infrared (IR) radiation from living plants as a host-finding cue. We present data revealing that (i) conifer cones are warmer and emit more near-, mid- and long-range IR radiation than needles, (ii) cone-feeding western conifer seed bugs, Leptoglossus occidentalis (Hemiptera: Coreidae), possess IR receptive organs and orient towards experimental IR cues, and (iii) occlusion of the insects' IR receptors impairs IR perception. The conifers' cost of attracting cone-feeding insects may be offset by occasional mast seeding resulting in cone crops too large to be effectively exploited by herbivores. |
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