Fruit Fly Larvae Exhibit Electroreception: Researchers at UC Santa Barbara discovered that fruit fly larvae can detect and respond to electric fields, a sensory ability called electroreception.
Electroreception Defined: Electroreception is the ability to detect weak electrostatic fields in the environment, used by animals for sensing living organisms or environmental factors.
Specific Neurons Involved: Only a small cluster of sensory neurons on either side of the larva’s head are responsible for this electroreceptive behavior. A single neuron in this cluster directly detects the electric field.
Directional Sensitivity: The neuron is inhibited when a negative electrode is in front of the head and activated when behind, causing the larva to reorient and move.
Confirmed Response to Electric Field: Scientists eliminated other stimuli to confirm the larval response was specifically due to the electric field.
Navigation Using Electric Fields: Larvae immersed in an electric field reoriented their movement and navigated towards the negative electrode.
Electroreception in Other Species: Previously known in sharks, bees and platypus, this discovery adds fruit fly larvae to the list of organisms with electroreception.
Electroreception uses: Electroreception is used for navigation, hunting, and communication in aquatic animals.
Electroreceptive species in India: Gangetic dolphins and electric rays are electroreceptive species found in India.
