Selective regulation of sensitivity to odours of different behavioural significance in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana

Abstract.  Orally supplied octopamine significantly enhances the wing-raising behaviour in male American cockroaches Periplaneta americana , in response to periplanone B the main component of the sex pheromone, but not attraction. In addition, octopamine decreases the response to the general odorant, hexan-1-ol. The presence of a calling female, as well as octopamine treatment, eliminates the avoidance of hexanol by males. Electroantennogram responses to hexan-1-ol decreases after topical octopamine application.