A series of sex pheromone biosynthesis-associated proteins were highly expressed in 0 h and 72 h PG samples, which are crucial for the biosynthesis and release of sex pheromones (Table 1). These proteins include fatty acid transport protein, acyl CoA desaturase, acyl-CoA binding protein, fatty-acyl reductase, perilipin, Orai1 alternative splice form A, calcineurin A and acyl carrier protein. These proteins indicated the biosynthesis and release of sex pheromones in PGs and further confirmed the reliability of quantitative proteomic analysis. qPCR results manifested that the expression levels of these proteins (Fig. 3A) were consistent with their transcript levels (Fig. 3B).