Analysis of Odor-Tracking Performance of Silk Moth Using a Sensory–Motor Intervention System.

This article investigates the robustness of odor plume-tracking behavior in the adult male silk moth, *Bombyx mori*, by experimentally introducing time delays in sensory input and motor output using a novel insect-mounted sensory–motor intervention system. The study found that delays in motor response did not significantly impair the moth’s ability to localize an odor source, whereas delays in sensory input proportionally decreased localization success and caused more erratic, rotational movement patterns. These results suggest that the silk moth compensates for motor delays through sensory feedback but is more sensitive to sensory delays, potentially employing large body movements to mitigate misaligned odor information. The findings contribute to understanding insect sensory–motor integration and may inform the design of robust artificial navigation systems that address input delays.