This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding an insect odorant receptor. This invention provides a nucleic acid molecule of at least 12 nucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing with the nucleic acid molecule encoding an insect odorant receptor. This invention also provides a purified, insect odorant receptor. This invention provides an antibody capable of specifically binding to an insect odorant receptor. This invention provides a method for identifying cDNA inserts encoding an insect odorant receptors. This invention provides a method of identifying a compound capable of specifically bind to an insect odorant receptor. This invention also provides a method of identifying a compound capable of activating the activity of an insect odorant receptor.