As in wild type, Orco^unspecified mutant males exposed to wild type males that produce normal male pheromones exhibit increased starvation resistance, increased triacylglyceride (TAG) amounts and increased lifespan compared with exposure to males engineered to produce female pheromones (by expressing tra^Scer\UAS.cFa under the control of Scer\GAL4^OK72).

The spontaneous firing rate of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in mutant embryos is similar to wild type at 16 hours after egg laying (AEL). However, mutant first instar larvae show a significantly lower OSN spontaneous firing rate than wild-type controls. Spike train variability is significantly increase in mutant 16 hour AEL embryos and in mutant first instar larvae compared to wild type.

Homozygous flies are insensitive to DEET (an insect repellent).