The olfactory response of the reindeer nose bot fly,Cephenemyia trompe (Oestridae), to components from interdigital pheromone gland and urine from the host reindeer,Rangifer tarandus

Summary The linked gas chromatographical/electroan-tennogram (GC/EAG) technique revealed that the parasitic reindeer nose bot fly is able to specifically sense components produced by the interdigital pheromone gland of reindeer. The head-space extraction technique, with Porapak Q as the collecting polymer, was used to trap pheromone gland and urine components used to assess fly responses. One component from reindeer urine also was a potent stimulus for the sensory neurons of the fly. These components can be important chemical signals to the flies for long distance orientation towards host animals. This is the first report on EAG in Oestridae.