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Insects
Special Issues
Insects Sensory Ecology: From Natural Environments to Neural Mechanisms
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Insects Sensory Ecology: From Natural Environments to Neural Mechanisms

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 2002

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anindya Ganguly

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Interests: drosophila; zoology; insect; olfaction; taste; gustation; molecular biology; courtship; ethology; nutrients; metabolism
Prof. Dr. Amir Ayali

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
Interests: locust ecology and behavior; insect locomotion control; neuroethology; insect-inspired technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue, “Insects Sensory Ecology: From Natural Environments to Neural Mechanisms”, brings together cutting-edge research exploring how insects perceive, process, and respond to environmental cues. Insects rely on sophisticated sensory systems, including vision, olfaction, gustation, mechanosensation, and thermosensation—to guide behaviors critical for survival, reproduction, and ecological interactions. This Special Issue highlights integrative approaches that connect ecological context with neural and molecular mechanisms of sensory processing. Topics include how natural environments shape sensory adaptation, how insects detect and discriminate complex signals, and how sensory input is encoded in neural circuits to drive behavior. By bridging ecological, physiological, and neurobiological perspectives, this Special Issue provides a comprehensive understanding of insect sensory ecology and its role in shaping species interactions, ecosystem dynamics, and potential applications in vector control, agriculture, and conservation. We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives that advance the field, from natural environments to neural mechanisms.

Dr. Anindya Ganguly
Prof. Dr. Amir Ayali
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • insect sensory ecology
  • neural mechanisms
  • chemosensation (olfaction and gustation)
  • vision and visual ecology
  • mechanosensation and thermosensation
  • ecological adaptation
  • neural circuits and behavior
  • evolution of sensory systems
  • environmental interactions

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

24 pages, 1211 KB  
Review
Research Progress on Sex Pheromone Receptors in Insects
by Henan Ju, Youmiao Li, Baolin Ou, Wanqiu Huang, Huifeng Li, Yongmei Huang, Yanqing Li, Tianyuan Chen and Jinfeng Hua
Insects 2026, 17(4), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040382 - 1 Apr 2026
Viewed by 505
Abstract
Insect sex pheromone receptors (PRs) are crucial for regulating mating and reproduction. In the insect olfactory perception pathway, the pheromone-binding protein (PBP) facilitates the efficient translocation of sex pheromones, enabling them to bind to PRs. PRs convert chemical signals into electrical signals, which [...] Read more.
Insect sex pheromone receptors (PRs) are crucial for regulating mating and reproduction. In the insect olfactory perception pathway, the pheromone-binding protein (PBP) facilitates the efficient translocation of sex pheromones, enabling them to bind to PRs. PRs convert chemical signals into electrical signals, which are transmitted to the insect central nervous system to ultimately regulate reproductive behaviors. Thus, conducting functional analysis of PRs not only clarifies the molecular mechanism underlying insect mating via sex pheromone recognition and reveals the intrinsic regulatory link between sex pheromone detection and mating behavior but also provides theoretical support for the scientific understanding of the insect olfactory system. Additionally, this research lays a core theoretical foundation for the development of green pest control technologies in agriculture and forestry. This paper systematically reviews the research methods, technical principles, and advantages and disadvantages of techniques used to study insect PR genes. It summarizes representative identified PRs and their corresponding research strategies, aiming to provide a reference for future investigations into insect chemical communication and for the advancement of pest control practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects Sensory Ecology: From Natural Environments to Neural Mechanisms)
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22 pages, 4526 KB  
Review
The Insect Eye: From Foundational Biology to Modern Applications in Pest Management
by Marianna Varone, Paola Di Lillo, Francesca Lucibelli, Gennaro Volpe, Angela Carfora, Sarah Maria Mazzucchiello, Serena Aceto, Giuseppe Saccone and Marco Salvemini
Insects 2026, 17(2), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17020167 - 2 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1123
Abstract
The ability of an animal to perceive its visual environment underpins many behaviors essential to survival, including navigation, foraging, predator avoidance, and recognition of conspecific individuals, making vision a critical element of both reproductive success and survival itself. In insects, eyes have evolved [...] Read more.
The ability of an animal to perceive its visual environment underpins many behaviors essential to survival, including navigation, foraging, predator avoidance, and recognition of conspecific individuals, making vision a critical element of both reproductive success and survival itself. In insects, eyes have evolved widely, shaped by different habitats and lifestyles, with striking examples such as the high-resolution diurnal vision of dragonflies, which enables rapid detection of prey and environmental features, in contrast with the highly sensitive nocturnal optical system of hawkmoths, which specializes in capturing even single photons. At the core of this diversity is a fundamental trade-off: at one extreme lies sensitivity, the ability to perceive visual stimuli, even under poor lighting conditions. At the other extreme, acuity, is the ability to resolve fine spatial details. This review seeks to synthesize current knowledge of insect visual systems, from their evolutionary origins to the developmental processes so far identified, from cellular organization to their role in behavior, to provide insights for designing novel, targeted, and sustainable vision-based technologies for the control of pest insects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects Sensory Ecology: From Natural Environments to Neural Mechanisms)
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