A single mutation in a moth gene has been shown to be able
to produce an entirely new scent. This has been shown in a new study led by
researchers from Lund University in Sweden. In the long run, the researchers
say that the results could contribute to tailored production of pheromones for
pest control.
Male moths can pick up the scent of a female moth from a
distance of several hundred metres. The females produce sexual pheromones –
scent substances that guide the males to them. There are around 180 000 species
of moth and butterfly in the world, and most of them communicate using
pheromones. Small differences between the different scents enable the males to
find females of their own species.