Citation
Die Riechschwelle des Seidenspinners
TL;DR
Male silk moth olfactory receptor neurons can respond to single pheromone molecules
This foundational research demonstrated that male silk moths can detect single molecules of the sex pheromone bombykol, representing the extreme sensitivity possible in chemical communication systems.
The finding that one molecule can trigger behavioral response across miles established pheromone signaling as one of biology's most refined communication mechanisms, providing the anchor example for understanding how minimal signals can coordinate behavior across vast distances.
Key Findings from Kaissling & Priesner (1970)
- Male silk moth olfactory receptor neurons can respond to single pheromone molecules
- Detection threshold for bombykol is approximately one molecule
- 17,000 chemoreceptors on male antennae are specialized for bombykol detection
- Males can detect females from up to seven miles away