Abstract: In order to reveal the physiological causes of allometric development of the silkworm, Bombyx mori reared with artificial diet, individuals with different acceptance of the artificial diet were selected from a variety. Their physiological responses of the gustatory organ on the maxillary tubercle to four representative components （sucrose, inositol, soybean extract, citric acid）were measured electrophysiologically. The results showed that there were individual differences in the responses of sensillum styloconicum Ss-I to the feeding stimulants (sucrose etc.) and sensillum styloconicum Ss-Ⅱ to the feeding deterrent (soybean extract etc.). At the critical concentration, the discharge frequencies of electric pulse in low feeding individuals were significantly higher than that in high feeding individuals. It showed that the gustation of low feeding silkworms was more sensitive than the high feeding ones.

Key words: Bombyx mori, gustatory electrophysiological responses, artificial diet, feeding habit