Studies of the Neural Basis of Evasive Flight Behavior in Response to Acoustic Stimulation in Heliothis zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Organization of the Tympanic Nerves

Authors

H. R. Agee, Insect Attractants, Behavior, and Basic Biology Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Gainesville, Florida 32604
E. Orona, Insect Attractants, Behavior, and Basic Biology Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Gainesville, Florida 32604

Date of this Version

1988

Comments

Published in Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 81(6): 977-985 (1988).

Abstract

The organization of the tympanic nerve within the thoracic ganglia of Heliothis zea (Boddie) was investigated. Cobalt chloride infiltration of cut axons was used to investigate the central terminations of the tympanic nerves. The axonal terminals of the A2 acoustic cell were confined to the meso-metathoracic ganglia, whereas the Al acoustic and the nonacoustic B cell were found in the thoracic ganglia. The relevance of this organization for neural circuitry of evasive flight behavior to acoustic stimulation is discussed.