Scientists have identified the sex pheromone of the lily moth (Spodoptera picta) by starting from the insect's scent receptors rather than from the chemicals it releases, an approach that could speed up the development of pheromone-based pest control.
Sex pheromones are the chemical signals insects use to find mates. In crop protection they are used to disrupt mating or to lure insects into traps for monitoring and control. Finding them is usually slow: researchers need live insects, must know exactly when the pheromone is released, and have to test many compounds to see which ones attract a mate.
The team reversed the process. Using the lily moth's genetic information and comparisons with related species, they chose two candidate olfactory receptors. They then used artificial intelligence to predict the receptors' three-dimensional structures and computer modelling to find molecules likely to bind to them.
Laboratory tests confirmed that the receptors responded to the predicted compounds. Chemical and electrophysiological tests showed that female moths release the identified pheromone and males can detect it, and behavioural experiments confirmed that it attracts males and triggers mating behaviour.
The lily moth does not occur in mainland France but is a significant pest in many parts of the world, especially in private gardens, public parks and botanical gardens, where restrictions on pesticides make pheromone-based control a practical option.
The researchers describe the study as proof of concept and suggest the receptor-first method could help identify unknown pheromones in current, emerging and invasive crop pests, giving farmers monitoring and mating-disruption tools sooner. It may also shed light on insect evolution, since pheromones act as chemical signatures that keep species apart.
Photo: Tim (iNaturalist user: twan3253) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Source: Seed World Europe
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