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<i>Plutella xylostella</i> is a typical phototactic pest. <i>LW-opsin</i> contributes to the phototaxis of <i>P. xylostella</i>, but the expression changes of other genes in the phototransduction pathway caused by the mutation of <i>LW-opsin</i> remain unknown. In the study, the head transcriptomes of male G88 and <i>LW-opsin</i> mutants were compared. A GO-function annotation showed that DEGs mainly belonged to the categories of molecular functions, biological processes, and cell composition. Additionally, a KEGG-pathway analysis suggested that DEGs were significantly enriched in some classical pathways, such as the phototransduction-fly and vitamin digestion and absorption pathways. The mRNA expressions of genes in the phototransduction-fly pathway, such as <i>Gq</i>, <i>ninaC,</i> and <i>rdgC</i> were significantly up-regulated, and <i>trp</i>, <i>trpl</i>, <i>inaD</i>, <i>cry1</i>, <i>ninaA</i> and <i>arr1</i> were significantly down-regulated. The expression trends of nine DEGs in the phototransduction pathway confirmed by a RT-qPCR were consistent with transcriptomic data. In addition, the influence of a <i>cry1</i> mutation on the phototaxis of <i>P. xylostella</i> was examined, and the results showed that the male <i>cry1</i> mutant exhibited higher phototactic rates to UV and blue lights than the male G88. Our results indicated that the <i>LW-opsin</i> mutation changed the expression of genes in the phototransduction pathway, and the mutation of <i>cry1</i> enhanced the phototaxis of a <i>P. xylostella</i> male, providing a basis for further investigation on the phototransduction pathway in <i>P. xylostella</i>.