Dec.
6, 2012 — Moths are able to enjoy a pollinator's buffet of flowers -- in
spite of being among the insect world's picky eaters -- because of two distinct
"channels" in their brains, scientists at the University of
Washington and University of Arizona have discovered.
One
olfactory channel governs innate preferences of the palm-sized hawk moths that
were studied -- insects capable of traveling miles in a single night in search
of favored blossoms. The other allows them to learn about alternate sources of
nectar when their first choices are not available.
For
moths, the ability to seek and remember alternate sources of food helps them
survive harsh, food-deprived conditions. Scientists knew bees could learn, but
this is the first proof that moths can too.
A
better understanding of the moth's neural basis of olfactory specialization and
learning also might lead to insights into how human noses and brains process
odor, according to Jeffrey Riffell, a UW assistant professor of biology and
lead author of a paper published Thursday (Dec. 6) in ScienceExpress, the
early online edition of the journal Science. Many of the mechanisms insects use
to process olfactory information are similar to humans, and moths have long
served as a model system for behavior and neurobiology, he said
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