Study on Taste Plasticity in Helicoverpa assulta Larva

[Objective] The aim was to provide a reference for pest control by studying the taste plasticity in Helicoverpa assulta.[Method] The two choices assays and taste sensilla ablation were used to investigate the taste plasticity on the deterrents in 5th instar larvae of H.assula which were reared on different artificial diets.[Result] The larvae reared on normal artificial diets were sensitive to the deterrents,the caterpillars with ablation of the lateral sensillum styloconica reacted to the deterrents as normal larvae.Meantime,the caterpillars with ablation of the medial sensillum styloconica were insensitive to the deterrents.However,the caterpillars reared on the artificial diets containing low deterrents showed insensitivity to the deterrents.[Conclusion] The medial sensillum styloconica contains the taste neurons which is sensitive to deterrents and there is a taste plasticity in different food experienced caterpillars of H.assulta..