THE STIMULATING EFFECT OF GLYCOLS AND T H E I R POLYMERS ON THE TARSAL RECEPTORS OF BLOWFLIES* Bx V. G. DETHIER AND L. E. CHADWICK

Previous studies of the rejection thresholds of the blowfly Phormia regina Meigen for series of aliphatic alcohols have revealed a very high degree of correlation between the concentration at rejection and those chemical properties which are related thermodynamically to one another (3). Because the technique of testing requires an aqueous solution, it had not been possible to extend the study of the relationship between chemical structure and stimulation beyond a chain length of eight carbon atoms. This difficulty has now been overcome in part by the use of water-soluble high polymers of the glycol series. The present study was undertaken, therefore, to examine the relation between stimulating effect and chemical properties with compounds having chain lengths up to C2~ and to compare the effects of compounds containing ether linkages with the effects of straight saturated hydrocarbon chains.