Fire-specific adaptations in pyrophilic insects reflect co-evolution with fire and specialization for exploiting burnt habitats. This study explores chemoreceptor gene expression in antenna and mouth parts of Microsania (Insecta: Diptera: Platypezidae) involved in smoke and carbon dioxide recognition. The transcriptomes of the smoke flies will be obtained using RNAseq analysis of the tissues. This study will provide a working methodology for the investigation of chemosensory receptors in a small insect species where pyrophilic adatations remain poorly understood and described. This study will use a new approach to describe pyrophilic adaptation, to document the presence of specific chemoreceptors through gene expression.

2024