Small ocellar interneurons in the brain of the cabbage looper moth Trichoplusia ni (hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

The small ocellar interneurons in the brain of the adult cabbage looper moth, Trichoplusia ni, have been examined after cobalt infiltration and intensification by the Timm's sulfide-silver technique. Small interneuron tracts pass from the ocellar synaptic region to the central body and the ipsilateral corpora pedunculata, optic tubercle and lobula. Additional ipsilateral and contralateral lobula tracts arise from the ipsilateral large interneuron tract and pass to both lobulas. Small interneurons also pass to the deutocerebrum and tritocerebrum via fibers in the anterior median tract and the antennal glomerular tracts.