Patent ID: 7741037

Claim:
A method of identifying an insect pheromone comprising: a) obtaining one or more insect pheromone-binding proteins; b) placing the one or more pheromone-binding proteins on a solid support; c) obtaining a composition comprising an extract of whole insects, parts of insects, larvae, pupae, or nest middens, wherein the composition potentially comprises one or more insect pheromones; d) contacting the one or more pheromone-binding proteins on the solid support with the composition under conditions conducive to allow at least one suitable pheromone, if present, to bind to at least one of the pheromone binding proteins on the solid support; and e) eluting any molecule specifically bound to the one or more pheromone-binding proteins on the solid support, wherein any eluted molecule is identified as a pheromone.