Response of Single Olfactory Cell of Triatoma infestans to Human Breath

Abstract

BOECKH et al.¹ reported electrophysiological studies of the responses of single cells of the olfactory receptors (single-unit responses) of various non-bloodsucking insects. They suggested that there were two types of cells differing in responsiveness—odour specialist cells which responded to only a few chemicals and odour generalist cells which were sensitive to a broader range of compounds. There is little information about single-unit response in haematophagous species, although Lacher² reported finding what might be odour generalist cells in Aedes aegypti (L.). I now report the responses of single olfactory cells in Triatoma infestans (Klug).