This book provides a complete overview of cutting-edge research on insect sex pheromones and pheromone communication systems. The coverage ranges from the chemistry, biosynthesis, and reception of sex pheromones to the control of odor-source searching behavior, and from molecules to the application of research findings to robotics. The book both summarizes the progress of studies conducted using Bombyx mori and several groups of moths and reviews sex pheromones of some non-lepidopteran insect groups of agricultural importance. Attention is drawn to recent findings on elaborate neural information processing in the brain in male moths and to the importance of olfactory receptors specifically tuned to sex pheromone molecules. Featuring contributions from leading experts on the topic, this book will be a unique and valuable resource for researchers and students in the fields of entomology, chemical ecology, insect physiology and biochemistry,evolution, biomimetics, and bioengineering. In addition to researchers, general insect lovers will find the book fascinating for its descriptions of the marvelous abilities of insects and the underlying mechanisms involved.

Autorentext
Yukio Ishikawa Graduate School of Agricultural and Life SciencesThe University of TokyoTokyo, Japan

Klappentext
This book provides a complete overview of cutting-edge research on insect sex pheromones and pheromone communication systems. The coverage ranges from the chemistry, biosynthesis, and reception of sex pheromones to the control of odor-source searching behavior, and from molecules to the application of research findings to robotics. The book both summarizes the progress of studies conducted using Bombyx mori and several groups of moths and reviews sex pheromones of some non-lepidopteran insect groups of agricultural importance. Attention is drawn to recent findings on elaborate neural information processing in the brain in male moths and to the importance of olfactory receptors specifically tuned to sex pheromone molecules. Featuring contributions from leading experts on the topic, this book will be a unique and valuable resource for researchers and students in the fields of entomology, chemical ecology, insect physiology and biochemistry, evolution, biomimetics, and bioengineering. In addition to researchers, general insect lovers will find the book fascinating for its descriptions of the marvelous abilities of insects and the underlying mechanisms involved.

Inhalt
Aims and scope of this book
Part I. Sex pheromones: chemistry
Chapter 1. Sex pheromones of mealybugs: implications for ecology, evolution, and management
Chapter 2. Sex pheromone communication system in the hawk moth
Chapter 3. Hybrid sex pheromone communication system in the bean beetles
Chapter 4. Type-II sex pheromone communication system in moths
Part II. Sex pheromones: biosynthesis
Chapter 5. Biochemical basis for the divergence of sex pheromones in the genus Ostrinia
Chapter 6. Biosynthesis of Type-II sex pheromones in moths
Chapter 7. Hormonal regulation of sex pheromone production in moths
Part III. Sex pheromones: olfaction
Chapter 8. Molecular mechanisms of sex pheromone reception in moths
Chapter 9. Evolutionary history of lepidopteran genes associated with sex pheromone recognition
Chapter 10. Application of olfactory detection system to sensing technology
Part IV. Neural mechanism controlling behavior and its application
Chapter 11. Neural circuits involved in pheromone orientation
Chapter 12. Coding and Evolution of Pheromone Preference in Moths
Chapter 13. Robotic application of insect sex pheromone searching behavior