Insect olfaction gustatory, ionotropic, and olfactory receptors and “distorts” other odorants interaction with those receptors. Insect olfaction Insect olfaction refers to the function of chemical receptors that enable insects to detect and identify volatile compounds for foraging, predator avoidance, finding mating partners (via pheromones) and locating oviposition habitats. Thus, it is the most important sensation for insects. Most important insect behaviors must be timed perfectly which is dependent on what they smell and when they smell it. For example, olfaction is essential for hunting in many species of wasps, including "Polybia sericea". The two organs insects primarily use for detecting odors are
Leafcutter ant foraged food, mainly consisting of leaves, it is protected from "Escovopsis" by the antibiotic secretions of Actinobacteria (genus "Pseudonocardia"). This mutualistic micro-organism lives in the metapleural glands of the ant. Actinobacteria are responsible for producing the majority of the world's antibiotics today. When the ants are out collecting leaves, they are at risk of attack by some species of phorid flies, parasitoids that lay eggs into the crevices of the worker ants' heads. Often, a minim will sit on a worker ant and ward off any attack. Also, the wrong type of fungus can grow during cultivation. "Escovopsis", a highly