My research program is focused on chemical communication systems.    These include studies on sex pheromone systems of moths, beetles, cockroaches, etc., as well as host plant attractants of Rhagoletis flies.   Efforts in the past centered on the characterization of sex pheromone blends, but now also include research on a) male perception of these blends and how odor discrimination is processed  in peripheral and central olfactory systems, including work on interspecific antennal transplants, b) biosynthetic pathways for the pheromone components, and c) the characterization of genes for key enzymes in these pathways, particularly the unique desaturases found in moth pheromone glands.   Research with host volatiles is being conducted with the use of SPME and GC/EAD techniques to define key plant volatile components that are behaviorally active in attracting flies to specific fruit.   Efforts are made with all projects to transfer knowledge and techniques to applied programs on the control of pest species.

Memberships
American Chemical Society
Entomological Society of America
Sigma Xi
American Association for the Advancement of Science
National Academy of Sciences
American Academy for Arts and Sciences
International Society of Chemical Ecology

Honors and Awards

1973    J. Everett Bussart Memorial Award (Entomological Society of America)
1977    Alexander von Humboldt Award
1978    Outstanding Alumni Award, Central College
1980    ESA Founder's Memorial Award Lecturer
1982    Wolf Prize (Agriculture)        
1983    Distinguished Achievement Award, Eastern Branch, ESA
1983    Distinguished Alumnus Award, Indiana University
1983    National Medal of Science
1985    Distinguished Scientist Luncheon, White House
1985    Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
1985    Honorary Doctor of Science, Central College
1985    Elected to National Academy of Sciences
1986    USDA Distinguished Service Award
1986    Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
1987    Fellow, Entomological Society of America
1988    Honorary Doctor of Science, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY
1988    Honorary Doctor of Science, Indiana University
1989    Honorary Doctor of Philosophy, University of Lund, Sweden
1989    Honorary Doctor of Science, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
1990    Silver Medal, International Society of Chemical Ecology
1994    Sterling Hendricks Award, ACS, Agrochemicals Division
2001    Spencer Award, American Chemical Society
2007    President, International Society of Chemical Ecology
2007    CALS Outstanding Faculty Award
2008    Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor

• Robbins, P. S., Nojima, S., Polavarapu, S., Koppenhofer, A. M., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Holdcraft, R. J., Consolie, N. H., Peck, D. C., Roelofs, W. L.  2009.  Sex pheromone of the scarab beetle Phyllophaga (Phytalus) Georgiana (Horn).  J. Chem. Ecol. Online Feb. 27, 2009.

• Olsson, S. B., Linn, Jr., C. E., Michel, A., Feder, J. L., Dambroski, H. R., Berlocher, S. H., Roelofs, W. L.  2008. Comparing Peripheral Olfactory Coding with Host Preference in the Rhagoletis Species Complex.  Chemical Senses  34:37-38.

• Domingue,  M. J., Musto,  C., Linn, C. E., Jr.,  Roelofs, W L., Baker,  T. C.  2008.  Olfactory neuron responsiveness and pheromone blend preference in hybrids between Ostrinia furnacalis and O. nubilalis (Lepidoptera:  Crambidae).  J. Insect Physiol. 54: 1261-1270.

• Tsfadia, O., Azrielli, A.,  Falach, L., Zada, A., Roelofs, W., Rafaeli, A.  2008. Pheromone biosynthetic pathways: PBAN-regulated rate-limiting steps and differential expression of desaturase genes in moth species.  Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 38: 552-567.

• Robbins, P. S., Cash, D. B., Linn, Jr., C. E., Roelofs, W. L.  2008.   Experimental evidence for three pheromone races of the scarab beetle Phyllophaga anxis (LeConte).  J. Chem. Ecol. 34: 205-214.

• Domingue,  M. J., Musto,  C., Linn, C. E., Jr.,  Roelofs, W L., Baker,  T. C. 2007. Evidence of olfactory antagonistic imposition as a facilitator of evolutionary shifts in pheromone blend usage in Ostrinia spp. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). J. Insect Physiol. 53: 488-49.

• Linn, C. E., Jr., Domingue,  M. J., Musto,  C., Baker,  T. C., Roelofs, W L. 2007. Support for (Z)-11-hexadecanal as a pheromone antagonist in Ostrinia nubilalis: flight tunnel and single sensillum studies with a New York population. J. Chem. Ecol. 33: 909-921.