Choosing a mate—it's the brain, not the nose, that knows
Tuesday, October 4, 2016 - 08:41
in Biology & Nature
How does a male moth find the right type of female for mating when there are two similar types luring him with their pheromones? In many species, differences in the antenna used by the male to smell these perfumes are responsible for his choice. However, in the European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), changes in the male's brain seem to dictate his choice between two types of available females. This is the finding of research conducted by an international team from the University of Amsterdam (UvA), the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology.