Selective regulation of sensitivity to odours of different behavioural significance in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana

Orally supplied octopamine significantly enhances the wing‐raising behaviour in male American cockroaches Periplaneta americana , in response to periplanone B the main component of the sex pheromone, but not attraction. In addition, octopamine decreases the response to the general odorant, hexan‐1‐ol. The presence of a calling female, as well as octopamine treatment, eliminates the avoidance of hexanol by males. Electroantennogram responses to hexan‐1‐ol decreases after topical octopamine application.