Moth pheromone genetics and evolution

Argues that there is no reason to dismiss species recognition as a possible cause of evolutionary change in moth sex pheromones. Selection for species recognition cannot explain all of the diversity in sex pheromones and the data supporting this contention are weak, but the alternative causes suggested, invoking mate choice between conspecifics as the mechanism of sexual selection, has no empirical support. Finding and analysing genes responsible for mate choice is important to corroborate any theory of sexual selection and speciation, and genetic dissection of moth pheromone communication has provided important progress. Mendelian genes controlling differences in mate choice and in the production of mate recognition signals have been found. -from Autho