Sex in the night: Fatty acid-derived sex pheromones and corresponding membrane pheromone receptors in insects

• Moth sex pheromones illustrate a striking example of communication in animals.
• Pheromone biosynthesis and reception studies define new concepts in signalling research.
• This review focuses on the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis.

The moth sex pheromone communication is one of the most striking examples of chemical communication in the animal kingdom. Investigating the molecular mechanisms of pheromone biosynthesis in the female pheromone gland and of pheromone reception in the male antennae not only defines new concepts in signalling research but also opens new perspectives for insect control. In this mini-review, we use the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis as a guideline to illustrate the recent advances gained in the understanding of moth sex pheromone communication.