Behavioral responses to the sex pheromone blends rely on genetically designed hardwired olfactory pathways, including precise detection of the specific pheromone compounds and sophisticated signal processes in the brain to interpret correct pheromone mixture information. Owing to minimized association of individual variation and acquired traits from learning in sex pheromone communication, behavioral assays can be very useful tool for understanding each step in the olfactory system. To investigate interactions between peripheral and central pathways in shaping olfactory perception, we used antennal imaginal disc transplants between phylogenetically close two heliothine moth species Heliothis virescens and Heliothis subflexa. In behavioral tests, the response patterns of the male transplants were distinct from any of normal males of either species. Neurophysiological analyses of olfactory receptor neurons in the antenna and projection neurons in the brain also supported the behavioral dissimilarities between the transplants and normal animals. Results will be discussed in light of the functional roles and developmental significances of peripheral and central olfactory pathways in pheromone communication system.

• Seong-Gyu Lee(1Dept. of Biology, University of Utah, Current address: Shin-Hwa ED Tech Co. Ltd.)
• Kathy Poole(Dept. of Entomology, Cornell University)
• Charles E. Linn, Jr(Dept. of Entomology, Cornell University)
• Neil J. Vickers(Dept. of Biology, University of Utah)