The role of biofoam in shielding spittlebug nymphs (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cercopidae) against bright light
XU CHEN
Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorV. BENNO MEYER-ROCHOW
Department of Genetics and Physiology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Research Institute of Luminous Organisms, Tokyo, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorALBERTO FERERES
Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorMARINA MORENTE
Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
AI-PING LIANG
Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Correspondence: Ai-Ping Liang, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, P.R. China. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorXU CHEN
Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorV. BENNO MEYER-ROCHOW
Department of Genetics and Physiology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Research Institute of Luminous Organisms, Tokyo, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorALBERTO FERERES
Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorMARINA MORENTE
Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
AI-PING LIANG
Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Correspondence: Ai-Ping Liang, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, P.R. China. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
1. Biofoam in spittlebugs has traditionally been seen as a defence against predation and a microclimate that reduces the risks of overheating and drying out. This study addresses the possible role of the foam as a light attenuator.
2. Nymphs exhibit higher mortalities when reared under brighter light (1800–2000 lux) than under less bright light (600–800 lux). At all developmental stages, photoavoidance is strongest when the nymphs are depleted of foam covers. First- and second-instar nymphs appear to be the most vulnerable to exposures by bright light.
3. Smaller bubbles are more effective as light attenuators than are larger ones. As younger instars possess smaller canals from which bubbles are released and, furthermore, exhibit higher concentrations of proteins in bubble liquid, they can produce smaller-sized bubbles and their foams are more effective at reducing light than are those of older nymphs.
4. The findings of this study show that most of the visible and UV radiation is reflected by the foam: transmittance of visible light was 15% at 600 nm and 12% at 350 nm.
5. These results demonstrate that spittlebug foam also possesses properties that render it an effective barrier against potentially damaging solar radiation.
Supporting Information
Filename | Description |
---|---|
een12496-sup-0001-TableS1.docxWord 2007 document , 35 KB | Table S1. Monitoring of temperature change at the site of nymphal exposure during behavior assays. The temperature was measured with a thermocouple thermometer (DT-613, CEM; Shenzhen Everbest Machinery Industry Co., Ltd., Guangdong, China). To measure the temperature resulting from illumination, the light used in the nymph avoidance assay [as delivered from a halogen lamp (KL 1500 LCD; Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany), yielding a light spot of 1.5 cm diameter] was focused onto the probe sensor. |
een12496-sup-0002-VideoS1.avivideo/avi, 6.6 MB | Video S1. Bubbles were being produced by fifth instar nymphs of C. versicolor. |
Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
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