The mountain pine beetle (MPB, Dendroctonus ponderosae) is a forest insect pest endemic to western North America. During dispersal and host colonization, MPB identify suitable host trees by olfaction of monoterpene volatiles, contend with host terpene defenses, and communicate with conspecifics using terpenoid and other pheromones. Cytochromes P450 (P450s) have been proposed to function in MPB olfaction, terpene detoxification, and pheromone biosynthesis. Here, we identified P450s that were abundant in the antennae transcriptome. Analysis of transcript levels across different life stages and tissues in females and males showed additional expression of most of these P450s in the midgut or fat body. These expression profiles suggest specific or overlapping functions in olfaction, detoxification, and pheromone biosynthesis.
Keywords: Bark beetles; Cytochromes P450; Detoxification; Mountain pine beetle; Olfaction; Pheromone biosynthesis.