| Title: | Pheromone Reception in Insects: The Example of Silk Moths |
| Address: | "Department of Molecular Medicine University of Padova Padova, Italy" |
| Journal Title: | Neurobiology of Chemical Communication |
| Abstract: | "Pheromones, chemical signals for intraspecific communication (Karlson and Luescher 1959), are usually blends of chemical compounds in species-specific mixtures. Airborne pheromones of moths often consist of only two or three chemical components, each of which is perceived by a separate type of receptor neurons. Each of these neurons, called olfactory specialists (Boeckh et al. 1965) is tuned to one biologically significant compound; it responds to compounds other than the key compound only if presented at 10- to 10,000-fold higher stimulus concentrations. The composition of a pheromone blend is represented by the pattern of excitations across the types of specialists (Baker et al. 2004). Odor specialists are known also for compounds other than pheromones, such as plant volatiles or carbon dioxide. Less sharply tuned olfactory neurons have been called generalists. They may show varying and overlapping response spectra such as found in moths (Schneider et al. 1964) or in pine weevils (Mustaparta 1975). Insect antennae-sense organs for various sensory modalities including the function of noses-provide simple and convenient subjects for morphological, electrophysiological, and biochemical studies. From the long hair sensilla of moths one may record the responses of individual olfactory neurons by extracellular electrodes. This review will cover various aspects of pheromone communication with an emphasis on reception and little on pheromone-controlled behavior. It will focus on two species of silk moths, Bombyx mori and the saturniid moth Antheraea polyphemus, with a few added remarks on other insects" |
| Notes: | "engMucignat-Caretta, Carla Kaissling, Karl-Ernst Review Book Chapter" |
