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Vonnie D.C. Shields

Towson University

Vonnie D.C. Shields, Ph.D., is Associate Dean, Fisher College of Science and Mathematics and a full professor in the Biological Sciences Department, Towson University, Towson, Maryland, USA. Dr. Shields’ research explores gustatory, olfactory, and visual cues in insects. Her laboratory employs morphological, behavioral, and electrophysiological techniques to better understand sensory mechanisms by which larval and adult insects find host plants and detect plant-associated volatiles. Dr. Shields received a BS and Ph.D. from the University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. A portion of her Ph.D. studies was carried out at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. After graduating, she accepted a research associate position to conduct postdoctoral studies at the Arizona Research Laboratories Division of Neurobiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA, before she joined the faculty at Towson University where she rose through the ranks from assistant to full professor.

5books edited

4chapters authored

Latest work with IntechOpen by Vonnie D.C. Shields

This book provides contributions on various topics pertaining to moths and caterpillars written by experts in their respective fields. The first and third chapter examine pest management strategies for controlling the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, and the codling moth, Cydia pomonella. Both insect pests are responsible for crop losses valued at millions of dollars annually. The authors discuss current management practices as well as their limitations. The second chapter focuses on the employment of RNAi technology as a molecular tool applied in controlling lepidopteran crop pests. The fourth chapter covers the importance of two types of proteins found in the cocoons of the Indian Tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta. The presence of these silk proteins is critical in allowing the pupae to endure and survive harsh environmental conditions and has served in the medical field in the manufacturing of suture materials, as well. The last chapter highlights the importance of how the sense of taste plays a key role in the feeding behavior of caterpillars. Attention is paid to the morphology of specific sensory organs involved in feeding with reference to gypsy moth caterpillars, Lymantria dispar. In addition, feeding behavior, phytochemicals, hostplant preferences, and neurophysiological responses of sensory organs involved in peripheral gustatory coding are covered. This book targets a wide audience of entomologists, biologists, ecologists, zoologists, teachers, and students.

Moths and Caterpillars

Moths and Caterpillars

Edited by Vonnie D.C. Shields

Books edited

The Complex World of Ants

The Complex World of Ants

Edited by Vonnie D.C. Shields

Insect Physiology and Ecology

Insect Physiology and Ecology

Edited by Vonnie D.C. Shields

Biological Control of Pest and Vector Insects

Biological Control of Pest and Vector Insects

Edited by Vonnie D.C. Shields

Herbivores

Herbivores

Edited by Vonnie D.C. Shields

Chapters authored

Neurophysiological Recording Techniques Applied to Insect Chemosensory Systems

By Vonnie D.C. Shields and Thomas Heinbockel

Part of the book: Zoology

Introductory Chapter: The Complex World of Ants

By Vonnie D.C. Shields

Part of the book: The Complex World of Ants

Functional Morphology of Gustatory Organs in Caterpillars

By Vonnie Denise Christine Shields

The sense of taste plays a pivotal role in the behavior of insects. Caterpillars depend largely on taste cues from plants to detect and locate food sources. Taste stimuli can be either simple or complex as multimolecular mixtures. The insect faces the task of deciphering the nature of these tastants and must then make appropriate feeding choices. Typically, caterpillar larvae possess four types of bilateral gustatory sensilla on their mouthparts. The lateral and medial styloconic sensilla are thought to be the primary organs involved in feeding. These sensilla are in continuous contact with plant sap during feeding and can detect different phytochemicals present in the plant. The gustatory sensory input is encoded as patterns of nerve impulses by gustatory receptor cells housed in these sensilla. Therefore, these gustatory receptor cells form the first layer of a decision-making process that ultimately determines whether food is accepted or rejected by the insect. Caterpillars, such as gypsy moth larvae (Lymantria dispar) (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) are major forest pests in most of the United States. These larvae are highly polyphagous feeders and defoliate a variety of tree species, including forest, shade, fruit, and ornamentals. This chapter discusses morphological, feeding behavioral, and electrophysiological aspects of gustatory sensilla with respect to gypsy moth caterpillars.

Part of the book: Moths and Caterpillars

Deterrents and Their Effects on the Feeding Behavior and Sensory Physiology of Insects

By Vonnie D.C. Shields

The gustatory system of insects is a prominent model in neuroscience. This important sensory system allows insects to detect, encode, and process gustatory information. This important sensory modality allows insects to perceive their environment. All animals detect and react to chemicals in their environment. Using insects as model systems allows us to obtain fundamental information regarding the processing of sensory information in the brain of the animal. Stimuli, associated with taste and smell, are responsible in insects being able to locate and select food sources, mates, and egg-laying sites. One line of research can be directed to better understanding gustatory cues in the selection of food sources by insects. Experimentally, this will involve feeding behavioral and electrophysiological testing in insects. Examining the structural organization of the gustatory organs using transmission electron and scanning electron microscopy will shed more light on the detailed structure of these taste sensory organs, the sensilla. During feeding, these taste organs sample the plant sap that contains a multitude of phytochemicals. Gustatory sensory input is encoded as patterns of nerve impulses by gustatory receptor cells which are housed in these taste sensory organs. Taste information gathered by these receptor cells will allow the insect to determine if the food is palatable or should be rejected.

Part of the book: Arthropods - New Advances and Perspectives [Working title]

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