Insect Pheromone Research and Control

Scents for safe sex: a volatile sex pheromone promotes outbreeding in a parasitoid wasp with severe genetic load

The paper identifies a volatile sex pheromone in Mastrus ridens wasps that promotes outbreeding by guiding mate finding, with methyl 6-methylsalicylate as a putative component.

Single-point mutation alters odorant receptor sensitivity associated with host plant specialization in Spodoptera moths

The paper identifies a single amino acid mutation in an odorant receptor that increases sensitivity to host plant volatiles in the lily moth Spodoptera picta.

Olfactory Search Behavior Across Flow Regimes Supports a Unifying Framework

This study shows that Drosophila adjust their olfactory search behavior across different flow conditions using a flow-invariant rhythmic pattern, suggesting a unified framework for odor-guided search.

Integrative Transcriptomic and Functional Analysis Reveals Fatty Acyl Elongases Involved in Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis in Rice Leaffolder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea)

This study identifies and functionally characterizes fatty acyl elongases involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis in rice leaffolder moths.

A male-derived volatile sex pheromone in nematodes identified through its mimicry by a predator

The paper identifies methyl 3-methyl-2-butenoate (MMB) as a male-derived volatile sex pheromone in nematodes, showing it is attractive to females and hermaphrodites and mimics a predator's chemical cues.

Enemies, more than sex, shape butterfly post-mating odor evolution

This study shows that post-mating odors in butterflies serve ecological roles like deterring predators and parasitoids, not just sexual selection.

The Sniffbot: A biohybrid robot for active sensing-based odor localization and discrimination

The paper introduces Sniffbot, a biohybrid robot that uses a locust antenna to detect and localize odors more effectively than existing methods.

Diversity of pheromone temporal coding disruptions by plant volatiles

The paper investigates how diverse volatile plant compounds disrupt pheromone temporal coding in moth olfactory receptor neurons.

Sex-determination cascade orchestrates male-male pheromone synthesis in the bean bug

The paper identifies two male-male pheromones in bean bugs and shows their synthesis is controlled by the sex-determination cascade Rpfmd-Rpdsx.

Functional insights on chemical communication of fishing cats: a strategic mechanism for adaptation in semi-aquatic habitat

This study identifies volatile and non-volatile compounds in fishing cat urine and marking fluid, revealing their role in chemical communication and adaptation to semi-aquatic environments.

Cyclohexyl acetate functions like a volatile sex pheromone mimic in Caenorhabditis nematodes

This study identifies cyclohexyl acetate as a volatile sex pheromone mimic in Caenorhabditis nematodes, showing it acts as a male-specific attractant through a distinct sensory pathway.

Vespula pensylvanica locate odor sources across diverse natural wind conditions

This study examines how yellowjackets locate odor sources in different natural wind conditions and finds they can do so across all observed wind conditions without preference.

O-Acyltransferase Genes Involved in the Production of Volatile Sex Pheromones in Caenorhabditis elegans

The paper identifies four O-acetyltransferase genes in C. elegans essential for synthesizing volatile sex pheromones and reveals their dual role in producing both volatile and non-volatile pheromone components.

A method to estimate absolute odorant concentration of olfactory stimuli

The paper presents a model to estimate absolute odorant concentration in a delivery system, applied to study (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate's effect on moth pheromone detection.

Female Olfactory Sensitivity is Temporally Asynchronous with Male Courtship in a Butterfly

The paper investigates the temporal asynchrony between male courtship timing and female olfactory sensitivity in Bicyclus anynana butterflies, finding females are more sensitive to odorants in the morning while males court more at dusk.

Genomic architecture of species-specific sex pheromone variation and mate choice

This study identifies three methyl-branched alkanes as key pheromonal compounds linked to mate choice in two parasitoid wasp species and links their variation to genomic regions enriched for cuticular hydrocarbon biosynthesis genes.

The impact of a fatty acid synthase gene in regulating a complex multifunctional trait essential for survival and sexual communication

This study investigates the role of the fas3 gene in regulating cuticular hydrocarbons in Nasonia vitripennis, showing its impact on survival and sexual communication.

Biosynthesis of modular signaling molecules requires functional diversification of carboxylesterases in Pristionchus pacificus

This study identifies three new carboxylesterases in Pristionchus pacificus that function in the biosynthesis of specific modular pheromones, revealing their substrate-specific roles in pheromone complexity.

Recognition of an appropriate mating partner using cuticular hydrocarbons in a species with an extreme intra-sexual dimorphism

The paper investigates how cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles in mason wasps change with age and affect male mating behavior, finding that methyl-branched alkanes reduce male harassment of immature females.

Dietary fatty acids as determinants of cuticular wax profiles in Tribolium castaneum

This study examines how dietary fatty acids affect cuticular wax profiles in Tribolium castaneum, finding significant quantitative variation in wax composition linked to specific fatty acids in the diet.

Molecular logic of pheromone recognition enables rational design of insect behavior modulators

This paper decodes the structural logic of pheromone recognition in silkmoths to design small molecules that disrupt insect mating behavior.

Regulatory Changes in the Fatty Acid Elongase eloF Underlie the Evolution of Sex-specific Pheromone Profiles in Drosophila prolongata

This study identifies a regulatory change in the fatty acid elongase eloF as the genetic basis for sex-specific pheromone profile evolution in Drosophila prolongata.

Olfactory performance explains duality of antennal architectural designs in Lepidoptera

The paper compares the olfactory performance of pectinate and filiform antennae in Lepidoptera, finding that pectinate antennae are more efficient at capturing odor at most speeds, while filiform are more energy-efficient at low speeds.

Fly navigational responses to odor motion and gradient cues are tuned to plume statistics

This study shows that fruit flies use odor gradient and motion cues differently depending on plume structure, with gradients guiding in smooth plumes and motion in turbulent ones.

Odor source localization behavior of an insect enhanced by intermittent intake strategy

This study shows that periodic wing flapping in male silk moths enhances odor plume tracking by reducing unintended movement during odor source localization.

Accelerating Ligand Discovery for Insect Odorant Receptors

This paper applies structure-based virtual screening to insect odorant receptors to accelerate ligand discovery, identifying new behaviorally active volatiles for non-pheromonal receptors.

Tracking Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) flight behavior with infrared camera around pheromone trap

This study uses infrared cameras to analyze the flight behavior of Helicoverpa zea around pheromone traps, identifying key behavioral patterns and suggesting improvements to trap design and pest management strategies.

Quantitative analysis of gas chromatography-coupled electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) of plant volatiles by insects

The paper develops a quantitative method for analyzing GC-EAD data to study insect responses to plant volatiles, showing species and sex-specific responses.

Unveiling the chemical and behavioural ecology of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797) in wheat flour: Alterations in flour metabolic content and the role of chemical cues in modulating beetles' behaviour and regulating population growth.

This study examines how T. castaneum infestation alters wheat flour's metabolic content and how chemical cues like 4,8-DMD and 1-Pentadecene influence beetle behavior and population growth.

Female-biased expressed odorant receptor genes differentially tuned to repulsive or attractive plant volatile compounds in the turnip moths

The paper identifies female-biased odorant receptor genes in turnip moths that respond to plant volatile compounds, showing some are attractive and others repulsive.