Pheromone-Mediated Flight in Moths

Abstract

Several explanations for the existence of zigzagging upwind flight in male moths responding to sex pheromone have been given over the course of research on this topic (e.g. Kennedy 1983; Preiss and Kramer 1986b; Baker and Haynes 1987; David and Kennedy 1987; David and Birch 1989; Baker 1990; Witzgall and Arn 1990; Willis and Arbas 1991a). Although a debate about the superficial shape of the flight tracks appears to be over-reductionistic, the root of the discussion involves the mechanisms that the moths use to maneuver and reach the source of pheromone in wind. As such, it is a very important debate. The behavioral mechanisms need to be precisely understood if we are to make sense of the underlying neuronal responses at the sensory, central nervous system, and motor levels and create robust neuroethological knowledge about this powerful and agriculturally important biological process called attraction.