Abstract: Response characteristics of the descending interneurons in the honeybee (Apis mellifera) to stimulating light and their relation to the different horizontal direction of the stimulating light were studied with electrophysiological exocellular recording method. The light stimulus elicits strong on- and off-reponses and weaksustained response. The responses of descending interneurons depend on the intensity of the light; when the luminance gets higher, response becomes stronger. Based on the response characteristics of descending interneurons elicited by light stimuli with different projecting angles, the most sensitive range is approximately in an angle of 40 degrees.

Key words: honeybee, descending interneurons, light response characteristics