Introduction

Abstract

The olfactory system has become an important model system for sensory functions. In vertebrates, recent advances have allowed quantum leaps in our knowledge regarding olfactory receptors, odotopic organisation and central processing. Studies in insect olfaction have also progresses greatly during the last decade. New methods and new researchers have added data only theoretised about fifteen years ago. This book aims at providing an overview over the field of insect olfaction, as it stands today. The authors have consciously been selected from the group of people working very actively in the field, people capable of providing an “inside report” about the state-of-theart in insect olfactory research. A second aim of the book is to give an opportunity to compare the insect olfactory system to that of other organisms. In each chapter parallels to the vertebrate or to other invertebrate systems are provided.