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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
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A Wind Tunnel for Odor Mediated Insect Behavioural Assays
Published on: November 30, 2018
Geographic and temporal variation in moth chemical communication
Astrid T Groot1, Olive Inglis, Scott Bowdridge
1North Carolina State University, Department of Entomology and W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. agroot@ice.mpg.de
Summary
Moth pheromone signals vary geographically and annually. This study reveals both genetic and physiological factors drive these chemical communication changes, impacting moth mating behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Chemical Ecology
Background:
- Intraspecific variation in moth pheromone signals is observed across geographic regions.
- Hypotheses suggest selection drives this variation, but genetic control evidence is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate geographic and temporal variation in moth pheromone blends and male responses.
- To explore the genetic and environmental factors influencing these communication signals.
Main Methods:
- Quantified variation in female sex pheromone blend composition.
- Assessed male responses to pheromone signals.
- Studied two related noctuid moth species across five geographic regions over 2-3 years.
Main Results:
- Significant variation in pheromone blend ratios and male responses was found both geographically and annually.
- Temporal variation was comparable in magnitude to geographic variation.
- This is the first study to report temporal variation in moth chemical communication.
Conclusions:
- Geographic variation in pheromone signals is partly genetically controlled and linked to the local chemical environment.
- Temporal variation suggests physiological adjustments within generations optimize pheromonal signals based on environmental cues.
