Hot breath, quick exit: aphids flee mammalian heat via TRPA1. Wang, B; Yang, LL; Wei, JJ; Huang, TY; Zhang, B; Bohbot, J; Wang, GR
Source SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
Published OCT 2025
DOI: 10.1007/s11427-025-2925-9
IF 9.5
Abstract Animals have developed scent-triggered avoidance for threat evasion and survival. Here, we found that aphids exhibit a unique heat-guided herbivore-avoidance mechanism. We identified the TRP channel ApisTRPA1 in Acyrthosiphon pisum as a key receptor for sensing rapid temperature increases. Two isoforms of ApisTRPA1, ApisTRPA1-A and ApisTRPA1-B, are both expressed in neurons located in the primary rhinaria, which are essential for acute heat detection. Among them, ApisTRPA1-B exhibits a stronger response to temperature gradients. These findings shed light on aphid physiological adaptations to thermal cues and may inform the development of eco-friendly aphid management strategies.