Extending the capabilities of an antenna/chip biosensor by employing various insect species

Because of their remarkable sensory abilities, insect antennae are very sui table for the construction of highly sensitive biosensors. Odour concentrat ions down to the low ppb range can easily be detected by means of an antenn a/field-effect transistor (FET) junction. In this work, we present measurem ents performed with different kinds of beetles, namely the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) and the steelblue jewel beetle (Phae nops cyanea). Their ability to specifically detect organic odour molecules, like 1-octen or guaiacol, at concentrations down to the ppb range can lead to interesting applications like the detection of different kinds of fires at an early stage. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.