Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) produced in the suboesophageal ganglion stimulates pheromone biosynthesis in the pheromone gland, mediating sexual behaviors. The nucleotide sequences of PBAN and PBAN receptor (PBANr) in the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata, were obtained from the transcriptome of the head and the pheromone gland, respectively. PBAN was expressed in all developmental stages. In contrast, PBANr was only detected in all developmental stages except for male adult. To examine the pheromonotropic activity of PBAN (Mvi-PBAN) in M. vitrata, Mvi-PBAN was chemically synthesized and injected into female adult. The pheromone production was increased in the dose-dependent manner and exhibited the maximal increase 2h post-injection.