Site of Pheromone Reception in the Crayfish Orconectes Propinquus (Decapoda, Cambaridae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT We performed and electroantennulogram experiments to determine the site of pheromone reception in the crayfish Orconectes propinquus. The or branches of the antennules were bilaterally ablated from test male and female crayfish. In inner ablation males, behavioral responses to female chemicals were unchanged relative to controls. However, a highly significant reduction in response occurred in outer ablation animals. Tests with female ablates yielded similar results, indicating that the antennular flagella mediate pheromone reception in this species. We did not obtain reliable results from the electroantennulogram studies and suggest that previously reported electroantennulograms from crayfish may be artifactual.