Pheromone reception in tobacco budworm moth,heliothis virescens.

Eleclrophysiological recordings from single olfactory receptor cells were carried out in the male tobacco budworm moth,Heliothis virescens. Recordings were made primarily from the sensilla trichodea type 1, which are located in the characteristic circumferential rows on the antennae. They possess the longest sensilla hairs as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The sensory cells of these sensilla responded specifically to pheromones. Only three types of receptor neurons were found, each tuned to one of the female-produced components. The majority (58%) of the neurons were tuned to the major component (Z)-11-hexadecenal (Z11-16:A1). Another large group (27%) responded specifically to stimulation with (Z)-9-tetradecenal (Z9-14: Al). These two compounds are the most important components of the pheromones as judged by their influence on the behavioral responses of the males. The third type of neurons responded specifically to (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol (Z11-16: OH), which may act either as a pheromone component or as an interspecific cue. None of the receptor neurons in the long sensilla trichodea responded specifically to the minor aldehyde components of the pheromone, which have subtle effects on behavior. Mixture experiments provided no evidence that minor components influence the receptor responses to the major components. Olfactory sensilla outside the crosswise rows were also characterized morphologically by SEM. Included in these were sensilla of different lengths, corresponding to a classification as s. basiconica and s. trichodea type 2. Electrophysiological recordings from these sensilla showed that they are involved primarily in host odor reception. However, a few of these neurons responded to pheromones.