Moths are renowned for their exceptional sense of smell, which is primarily facilitated by their antennae. The antennae are covered with thousands of tiny sensory hairs, known as sensilla, which are capable of detecting minute chemical signals from the environment.

The sensilla on a moth’s antennae are highly specialized structures. Each sensillum houses several olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) that are tuned to detect specific chemical compounds. The density and variety of these sensilla allow moths to detect and differentiate a wide range of scents with remarkable precision.

Moths have also evolved various adaptive strategies to enhance their olfactory capabilities. Some species exhibit daily rhythms in their sensitivity to certain odors, aligning their peak olfactory sensitivity with the times of day when these scents are most prevalent. This synchronization ensures that moths are most responsive to important environmental cues, such as the release of sex pheromones or the blooming of flowers, during optimal periods.

Moreover, some moth species can learn and remember specific odors. This olfactory learning enables moths to associate certain smells with rewarding experiences, such as finding food, thereby enhancing their foraging efficiency over time.