Pheromone‐mediated behaviour of male lightbrown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana, correlated with adaptation of pheromone receptors

. Two pheromone components are required to elicit close-range precopulatory behaviour in male lightbrown apple moths, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera). The receptor cells which respond to the major component (I) (E)-11-tetradecen-1-yl acetate, have a fast disadaptation rate with recovery occurring within 5 s after stimulation, while the cells responding to the second component (II), (E, E)-9, 11-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate, recover after approximately 300 s. Studies on the behaviour of males in the laboratory show a close correlation between the duration of a memory effect, during which males will respond to compound I alone after receiving an initial exposure to I and II, and the time-course for disadaptation of component II-responding cells. These results suggest several possibilities for mechanisms of integration of sensory input by the CNS.