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Insect antenna as a smoke detector

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Schütz

    (Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Institut für Phytopathologie und Angewandte Zoologie)

  • Bernhard Weissbecker

    (Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Institut für Phytopathologie und Angewandte Zoologie)

  • Hans E. Hummel

    (Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Institut für Phytopathologie und Angewandte Zoologie)

  • Karl-Heinz Apel

    (Landesforstanstalt Eberswalde)

  • Helmut Schmitz

    (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Institut für Zoologie, Poppelsdorfer Schloss)

  • Horst Bleckmann

    (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Institut für Zoologie, Poppelsdorfer Schloss)

Abstract

The larvae of jewel beetles of the genus Melanophila (Buprestidae) can develop only in the wood of trees freshly killed by fire1. To arrange this, the beetles need to approach forest fires from as far as 50 kilometres away1, 2. They are the only buprestid beetles known to have paired thoracic pit organs3, which behavioural2, ultrastructural4 and physiological experiments5 have shown to be highly sensitive infrared receptors, useful for detecting forest fires. It has been suggested that Melanophila can sense the smoke from fires6, but behavioural experiments failed to show that crawling beetles approach smoke sources2. We find that the antennae of jewel beetles can detect substances emitted in smoke from burning wood.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Schütz & Bernhard Weissbecker & Hans E. Hummel & Karl-Heinz Apel & Helmut Schmitz & Horst Bleckmann, 1999. "Insect antenna as a smoke detector," Nature, Nature, vol. 398(6725), pages 298-299, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:398:y:1999:i:6725:d:10.1038_18585
    DOI: 10.1038/18585
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    Cited by:

    1. Hélène Le Borgne & Christian Hébert & Angélique Dupuch & Orphé Bichet & David Pinaud & Daniel Fortin, 2018. "Temporal dynamics in animal community assembly during post-logging succession in boreal forest," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-18, September.

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