Branched tyramides from males of the harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex badius.

Tyramides are produced in microgram quantities by males of species in the large Myrmicine ant sub-family (> 7000 species). Tyramides are transferred to female sexuals during mating where a specific female sexual evolved enzyme hydrolyzes the tyramides to the biogenic amine, tyramine. Tyramine is a ligand for receptors that rapidly activate reproductive development in the newly mated queen-previously reproductively inhibited by the mother queen.

Insecticidal Effects of Receptor-Interference Isolated Bioactive Peptides on Fire Ant Colonies.

Receptor-interference (Receptor-i) is a novel technology used to identify bioactive peptides as agonists or antagonists against a specific receptor, primarily targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Using Receptor-i methodology, we targeted the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide receptor (PBAN-R) of the red imported fire ant (). Based on previous studies, we selected four bioactive peptides cyclized with two cysteines: CVKLGSHFC, CIQQGSHFC, CERVGSHFC, and CMARYMSAC, and we conducted small-scale feeding bioassays, measuring fire ant worker mortality.

Novel alkaloids from the fire ant, Solenopsis geminata.

South American fire ants, Solenopsis richteri and Solenopsis invicta, were accidently introduced into the southern USA in the 1900s and 1930s, respectively. The rapid spread and high population densities of S. invicta, and its potent sting, resulted in broad economic impacts and a variety of research efforts.

Identification of Cuticular and Web Lipids of the Spider Argiope bruennichi.

Emerging evidence shows that the cuticular and silk lipids of spiders are structurally more diverse than those of insects, although only a relatively low number of species have been investigated so far. As in insects, such lipids might play a role as signals in various contexts. The wasp spider Argiope bruennichi has probably the best investigated chemical communication system within spiders, including the known structure of the female sex pheromone.

Male fire ant neurotransmitter precursors trigger reproductive development in females after mating.

Social insect queens have evolved mechanisms to prevent competition from their sexual daughters. For Solenopsis invicta, the fire ant, queens have evolved a primer pheromone that retards reproductive development in their winged reproductive daughters. If these daughters are removed from the influence of the queen, it takes about a week to start reproductive development; however, it starts almost immediately after mating.

Feeding state regulates pheromone-mediated avoidance behavior via the insulin signaling pathway in .

Animals change sensory responses and their eventual behaviors, depending on their internal metabolic status and external food availability. However, the mechanisms underlying feeding state-dependent behavioral changes remain undefined. Previous studies have shown that hermaphrodite exhibits avoidance behaviors to acute exposure of a pheromone, ascr#3 (asc-ΔC9, C9).

Early Pheromone Experience Modifies a Synaptic Activity to Influence Adult Pheromone Responses of C. elegans.

Experiences during early development can influence neuronal functions and modulate adult behaviors [1, 2]. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the long-term behavioral effects of these early experiences are not fully understood. The C.

Ascarosides coordinate the dispersal of a plant-parasitic nematode with the metamorphosis of its vector beetle.

Insect vectors are required for the transmission of many species of parasitic nematodes, but the mechanisms by which the vectors and nematodes coordinate their life cycles are poorly understood. Here, we report that ascarosides, an evolutionarily conserved family of nematode pheromones, are produced not only by a plant-parasitic nematode, but also by its vector beetle. The pinewood nematode and its vector beetle cause pine wilt disease, which threatens forest ecosystems world-wide.

Identification and Synthesis of Branched Wax-type Esters, Novel Surface Lipids from the Spider Argyrodes elevatus (Araneae: Theridiidae).

The analysis of cuticular extracts from the kleptoparasitic spider Argyrodes elevatus revealed the presence of unusual esters, new for arthropods. These novel compounds proved to be methyl-branched long-chain fatty acid esters with methyl branches located either close or remote from the internally located ester group. The GC/MS analysis of the prosoma lipid blend from the male cuticle contained one major component, undecyl 2-methyltridecanoate (1).

Male adaptations to minimize sexual cannibalism during reproduction in the funnel-web spider Hololena curta.

Males of many spider species risk being attacked and cannibalized while searching for, courting, and mating with conspecific females. However, there are exceptions. We show that the funnel-web spider, Hololena curta, has 3 adaptations that minimize risk to males during courtship and mating, and enhance reproductive success.

Acyl-CoA oxidase complexes control the chemical message produced by Caenorhabditis elegans.

Caenorhabditis elegans uses ascaroside pheromones to induce development of the stress-resistant dauer larval stage and to coordinate various behaviors. Peroxisomal β-oxidation cycles are required for the biosynthesis of the fatty acid-derived side chains of the ascarosides. Here we show that three acyl-CoA oxidases, which catalyze the first step in these β-oxidation cycles, form different protein homo- and heterodimers with distinct substrate preferences.

Biosynthesis and PBAN-regulated transport of pheromone polyenes in the winter moth, Operophtera brumata.

The trienoic and tetraenoic polyenes, (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-nonadecatriene, (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-henicosatriene, and (3Z,6Z,9Z)-1,3,6,9-henicosatetraene were found in the abdominal cuticle and pheromone gland of the winter moth Operophtera brumata L. (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), in addition to the previously identified single component sex pheromone (3Z,6Z,9Z)-1,3,6,9-nonadecatetraene. The pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) is involved in the regulation of polyene transport from abdominal cuticle to the pheromone gland.

Identification of the sex pheromone of the invasive scale Acutaspis albopicta (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), arriving in California on shipments of avocados from Mexico.

As a result of relaxation of importation restrictions ordered by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, shipments of fresh avocados from Mexico began entering California year-round in 2007, despite the fact that these shipments were heavily infested with a number of exotic and potentially invasive armored scale species that are not thought to be present in California.