The indolealkylamine serotonin has been demonstrated to play an important role in feeding in several insects. Serotonin affects gut motility and feeding behavior and may be acting as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator and a neurohormone in insect tissues. The greenhead horse fly, Tabanus nigrovittatus (Macquart), displays extensive serotonin immunoreactivity throughout its central nervous system and alimentary tract. Serotonin immunopositive cells and processes were localized throughout the brain and the thoracic-abdominal ganglion and a serotonergic nerve net was discovered to envelope the anterior midgut.
Species 1: Diptera Tabanidae Tabanus nigrovittatus (greenhead horse fly, salt marsh horse fly)
Keywords: midgut
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