The number of insect species for which we have even a basic understanding of the genetic control of sexual communication is small. Such knowledge is important in elucidating the process of coevolution of signal and response. In night-flying moths, highly specific, long distance, pheromonal communication is essential for mating success. Male moths discriminate against females with atypical pheromonal signals (and vice versa), and this is expected to constrain evolutionary change by continually selecting against new male and female mating traits when they are at low frequency. However, the diversity of chemical mixtures used by lepidopterans for sexual communication stands as evidence that evolution has not been stymied. We crossed two closely related species, Heliothis virescens and H. subflexa, with subsequent repeated backcrosses to H. subflexa in order to isolate chromosomes involved in pheromone production and response. Through this method we found one chromosome that controls the production of acetates, which are part of the pheromone of H. subflexa females, while they act as a deterrent in H. virescens males. We are currently crossing backcross-4 males (which have recombination) to H. subflexa females to identify alleles responsible for altering pheromone composition.
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