Electrophysiological Responses to Light in the Compound Eyes of Some Stored‐product Insects

That stored‐product insects demonstrate behavioral response to light is well‐known (Stermer, 1959; Sohi, 1966; Yinon & Shulov, 1966). The question asked is whether these insects, which exist always in conditions of low illumination or darkness, possess a normal visual mechanism. In order to clarify this, electroretinograms have been recorded from the compound eyes of the adults of the yellow mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor L., the hide beetle Dermestes maculatus De G., and the khapra beetle Trogoderma granarium Everts. Nineteen specimens were the subject of experiments in T. molitor and four in each of the other species. Conventional optical and electronic equipment were used to stimulate the eyes and to record the response (Yinon & Aucrbach, 1969). A computer of average transients was used and permitted accurate diagnosis of the response pattern. Fifty responses for each stimulus type (i.e., light intensity) were averaged. A dark adaptation of 5–10 minutes was given before each experiment.