The effects of the antennal flight posture and orientation on the pheromonal stimulation patterns experienced by male Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Heads of Spodoptera littoralis males with their antennae artificiallyelevated and stabilized to imitate their flight posture, wereexposed at different inclinations to a mobile beam of pulsedpheromones. The electroantennogram patterns recorded for variouslinear tracks simulated in this manner were closely linked tothe spatial pheromone density distribution. Thus, during in-flightmate detection, the normally elevated antennae appear to functionas a sensitive, instantaneous detector of conspecific femalesex pheromone, informing the insect of contact with, amount,loss or recovery of the stimulant.