Chemoreception and the Behavior of Insects
V. G. DETHIER
Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore, Maryland
Page
I. Introduction
149
II. Host-Finding and Recognition by Parasitoid Insects
151
III. Chemical Trail-Following
156
IV. Orientation by Flying Insects
165
V. Mating Behavior: Drosophila
172
VI. Mating Behavior: Cockroaches
175
VII. Conclusion
178
References
179
I. INTRODUCTION
We, as creatures living in a visual world, cannot conceive and appreciate to the fullest a world of odors and tastes and the order of living
in such a world. Our limitations in this respect handicap inquiry into
many aspects of animal behavior, because the vast majority of organisms
exist in such a world and are so dependent upon an ability to perceive
chemical inequalities in their environment that to deprive these animals
of their chemical senses is to inflict a disabling blindness. Such is the
dependency upon chemical stimulation of all aquatic organisms, from
bacteria and protozoa to fish and amphibians, of many mammals (especially carnivores), and of insects, that for all of them odors and tastes
regulate to a great degree orientation, feeding, sexual and reproductive
activities, and social behavior. Odors act as directing or orienting stimuli
and together with tastes can act as releasing stimuli.
Animals orient themselves in space and regulate their comings and
goings by visual, auditory, mechanical (tactile, gravity, etc.), and chemical cues. In practice, although one category of information may predominate, the information from several faculties may be integrated
simultaneously, may be employed successively, or may substitute for
one another. Any given aspect of behavior is monitored and modified in
conformity with information fed into the central nervous system from
a variety of sense organs signaling changes in both the external and
the internal environment. Man and birds are preeminently visual animals,
orienting by visual cues assisted by the subordinate auditory sense. Bats
are preeminently auditory animals. Many other mammals, especially
149
V. G. DETHIER
Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore, Maryland
Page
I. Introduction
149
II. Host-Finding and Recognition by Parasitoid Insects
151
III. Chemical Trail-Following
156
IV. Orientation by Flying Insects
165
V. Mating Behavior: Drosophila
172
VI. Mating Behavior: Cockroaches
175
VII. Conclusion
178
References
179
I. INTRODUCTION
We, as creatures living in a visual world, cannot conceive and appreciate to the fullest a world of odors and tastes and the order of living
in such a world. Our limitations in this respect handicap inquiry into
many aspects of animal behavior, because the vast majority of organisms
exist in such a world and are so dependent upon an ability to perceive
chemical inequalities in their environment that to deprive these animals
of their chemical senses is to inflict a disabling blindness. Such is the
dependency upon chemical stimulation of all aquatic organisms, from
bacteria and protozoa to fish and amphibians, of many mammals (especially carnivores), and of insects, that for all of them odors and tastes
regulate to a great degree orientation, feeding, sexual and reproductive
activities, and social behavior. Odors act as directing or orienting stimuli
and together with tastes can act as releasing stimuli.
Animals orient themselves in space and regulate their comings and
goings by visual, auditory, mechanical (tactile, gravity, etc.), and chemical cues. In practice, although one category of information may predominate, the information from several faculties may be integrated
simultaneously, may be employed successively, or may substitute for
one another. Any given aspect of behavior is monitored and modified in
conformity with information fed into the central nervous system from
a variety of sense organs signaling changes in both the external and
the internal environment. Man and birds are preeminently visual animals,
orienting by visual cues assisted by the subordinate auditory sense. Bats
are preeminently auditory animals. Many other mammals, especially
149