Spectral sensitivity of visual cells of the compound eye ofBlatta orientalis

Abstract

Responses of single visual cells of the anterior part of the compound eye of the oriental cockroachBlatta orientalis were recorded intracellularly. Two spectral types of cells were discovered: ultraviolet receptors with λmax 361 nm and green-sensitive receptors with λmax 503 nm. The spectral curve of the whole eye, measured by the electroretinogram, included two peaks (λ=350−370 and 500 nm) and a minimum between 400 and 430 nm. This last fact is interpreted as additional evidence of the dichromatic vision of the cockroach.