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
Mutillidae velvet ants would immediately sting the lizards. This sting resulted in the dropping of the ants in both cases and avoidance for the remainder of the trial. The side-blotched lizard was found dead in its tank 24 hours later. The side-blotched lizard is a natural predator to the velvet ant, while the whiptail is not. The aposematic red and black coloration of the velvet ant corresponds to a specific Müllerian mimicry ring consisting of dozens of species. This offers the velvet ant protection because many of its predators have learned to avoid prey with this same coloration. The velvet ant,