Waqar Jaleel

I am an Entomologist and my research area belongs to the field of biology, molecular biology, ecology, chemical ecology, electron microscopy, ethology, physiology, morphology, resistance mechanism, mechanical control, and biological control of agricultural, social, and stored grain pests. As well as interested in the teaching profession.

Sugar is one of the major basic components of food necessary for ant development and survival, meanwhile an important ingredient of the baits for pest ant control as well. Until now, behavioral sequence and localization of the gustatory sense of ant workers to sugars still remain unclear. In the management of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, one of the notorious invasive species of ant all over the world, the most effective control measure is the broadcast application of baits, which consist of attractants, like sugar and fatty oil. In this study, we raised the hypothesis that the gustatory sense of fire ant workers to sugars is localized mainly on antennae and foreleg tarsi based on feeding behavioral sequence and bioassay. The results are as follows. 

Firstly, the preferred sugar among several saccharides was disaccharides like sucrose in the laboratory. Secondly, the feeding sequence of the fire ant workers on sucrose solution was observed and categorized in detail for the first time. In antennal treatments, the survival percentage of workers without a flagellum (ablated of flagellum) was maximum as compared to silicon-treated workers. In tarsal treatments, the survival percentage of HCL-treated workers was maximum as compared to other treated workers (ablation of foreleg tarsi and silicon-treated foreleg tarsi). The feeding time of flagellum ablated and HCL-treated workers was less on sucrose solution as compared to the workers in control. While the tarsi-treated workers have significantly less time in sucrose solution as compared to antennae-ablated workers. Thirdly, antennal ablation and HCL treatment on foreleg tarsi were chosen for blocking the sensitivity of gustatory sensilla on both appendages. It is indicated that the foreleg tarsi of workers were responsible mainly for detecting the sweet compound, and their antennae partially according to feeding behavioral analysis and feeding time. In addition, we found out that sensilla Basiconic (I and II), Trichoid (I and II), and Chaetic were on antennae flagellum, and meanwhile sensilla Chaetic only on foreleg tarsi. Sensilla Chaetic and Basiconic have clear pores at their tip. Therefore, it is inferred that the potential gustatory sensilla are sensilla Chaetic on foreleg tarsi and also sensilla Basiconic, Trichoid, and  Chaetic on the antennae.