SummaryThe fine structure of silkmoth sense hair surfaces has been investigated by freeze etching with Pt/C rotary shadowing. To do this, the hydrophobic layer in the cuticle was removed using 20–25% methanol or ethanol. Freeze‐etch patterns of sense hair surfaces, as well as the pore structure and pore distribution, are shown. The hair surface has a nonhelical ‘band’ structure, in which every ‘band’ lies at an oblique angle with respect to the axis of the hair. Each ‘band’ is separated from its neighbour by a 30‐nm step. The average density of pores is 11·3 + 2·4 pores μm−2. Freeze‐etch patterns of the single and multiple pore tubules are shown. Evidence for direct contact between the pore tubule and dendrite membrane of an olfactory receptor neuron is presented.