Silk moth antenna

Light micrograph of a silk moth antenna. It has a feather like structure with a central stem and numerous side branches which are covered in what look like tiny hairs. The male silk moth uses it's antennae to detect pheromones released from nearby female moths in order to find a mate, as scent receptors are located here. Viewed with a light microscope using dark ground illumination. Composite image. Horizontal width of image is approximately 1 mm.