The female sex pheromone of the fungus-growing termitePseudacanthotermes spiniger (Termitidae, Macrotermitinae) was isolated from sternal glands of alates. The compound inducing attraction and excitation in males was identified as the (3Z,6Z,8E)-3,6,8-dodecatrien-1-ol by GC-MS, microhydrogenation, GC-FTIR, and NMR. This unsaturated alcohol is present in both sexes but in much higher quantities in females than in males (about 10 times). The hypothesis is suggested that this alcohol, which is detected at extremely low concentrations by the workers ofP. spiniger, may be used either as a trail-following pheromone or a sex pheromone according to concentrations and to target castes. The presence of this alcohol in Macrotermitinae reinforces the idea of a phylogenetic proximity between this subfamily of higher termites and the lower termites Rhinotermitidae, where the unsaturated alcohol was previously found. The sternal glands of alates ofP. spiniger also contain a geometric isomer of (3Z,6Z,8E)-3,6,8-dodecatrien-1-ol.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00988000 | DOI Listing |
J Chem Ecol
January 2025
Department Plant Protection Biology, SLU Alnarp, Lomma, Sweden.
The great diversity of specialist plant-feeding insects suggests that host plant shifts may initiate speciation, even without geographic barriers. Pheromones and kairomones mediate sexual communication and host choice, and the response to these behaviour-modifying chemicals is under sexual and natural selection, respectively. The concept that the interaction of mate signals and habitat cues facilitates reproductive isolation and ecological speciation is well established, while the traits and the underlying sensory mechanisms remain unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Chem Ecol
January 2025
Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Laboratório de Semioquímicos, Brasília, DF, 70297-400, Brazil.
The small black stem bug, Paratibraca (= Glyphepomis) spinosa (Campos and Grazia 1998), is a rice pest in Brazil and is part of a complex of stink bugs that includes Oebalus poecilus (Dallas) and Tibraca limbativentris Stål. Together, these pentatomid species pose a serious threat to rice crops throughout South America. In this study, we identified the sex pheromone of P.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsects
January 2025
Department of Environmental Management, Institute of Environmental Engineering, RUDN University, 6 Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117198, Russia.
Tomato leaf miner (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) has gained the status of major pest globally. Integrated pest management (IPM) consists of different control methods. This field study was conducted to evaluate the influence of different pheromone-based traps to attract the male population and the potential of sticky pads of four different colors in capturing the adults in the absence of pheromone lures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsects
December 2024
Institute of Chemistry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile.
The poplar moth, (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), is widely distributed across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. It was first identified in Chile in 2015 and has since become a significant pest in the agricultural sector. Additionally, economic losses are further aggravated by the presence of pupae in nearby fruit orchards.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsects
December 2024
Nature Research Centre, Akademijos St. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania.
The pheromones of crane flies (Tipulidae), one of the largest families within the order Diptera (over 15,000 species), are unknown. The aim of our study was to identify the chemical compounds involved in communication in , a representative species of the family. Female cuticular washes were found to be attractive to males in a bioassay.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!