Scent of a Fly

Sexual courtship is a highly ritualized behavior in many animals. Recent work in the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has illuminated how the pheromone cis-vaccenyl acetate modulates sexual behavior in the fly. Chemosensory receptors and a sexually dimorphic circuit activated by this pheromone have been identified. This minireview highlights recent advances in the field of fly courtship.