Female navel orangeworm moths, Amyelois transitella, a pest of almonds in California, are attracted to and lay eggs on their preferred host plant in response to volatile odors emitted by almond fruits and by larvae feeding on the almonds ( Curtis and Clark, 1979, Environ. For example, the male hawkworm moth, Manduca sexta, can detect extremely low concentrations of an attractive odor, called a pheromone, produced by females of the same species, and uses this sense to pursue females over large distances ( Hildebrand, 1995, Proc. Many insect behaviors, such as the location and selection of mating partners, food sources and suitable places for egg laying, are driven by the recognition of specific odors in the environment. Methods of modifying insect behavior by modifying an insect Or83b receptor are also provided. In a preferred embodiment, molecules that bind or modulate the activity of an Or83b gene from one species but not others is desired. Molecules found to bind or modulate the activity of Or83b genes may be formulated into pest control agents by providing a carrier. Methods for identifying molecules that bind or modulate the activity of these Or83b odorant receptor genes are provided. Antibodies to an Or83b odorant receptor protein, and derivatives and analogs thereof, are provided. Methods of production of an Or83b odorant receptor protein ( e.g., by recombinant means), and derivatives and analogs thereof, are provided.

The nucleic acids of the invention may be operatively linked to promoter sequences and transformed into host cells. In a specific embodiment, the Or83b odorant receptor gene is not the Drosophila melanogaster Or83b gene. The invention further relates to fragments (and derivatives and analogs thereof) of Or83b odorant receptor proteins which comprise one or more highly conserved motifs of an Or83b odorant receptor protein. The invention provides nucleotide sequences of insect Or83b odorant receptor genes, amino acid sequences of their encoded proteins (including peptide or polypeptide), and derivatives ( e.g., fragments) and analogs thereof. The present invention relates to insect Or83b odorant receptor genes and methods for identifying Or83b odorant receptor genes. Methods to modify the insect behaviour by modifying an insect Or83b odorant are also provided. In a preferred embodiment, molecules that bind or modulate the activity of an Or83b gene form one species but not others is desired.

Methods of production of an Or83b odorant receptor protein (e.g., by recombinant means), and derivatives and analogs thereof, are provided. The invention provides nucleotide sequences of insect odorant receptor genes Or83b, amino acid sequences of their encoded proteins (including peptides or polypeptides), and related products and methods. The present invention relates to insect odorant receptor genes and methods for identifying odorant receptor genes.

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