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1.
Summary. We investigated the hypothesis that aggregation signals produced by male webbing clothes moths (WCM), Tineola bisselliella (Hum.) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae), and close-range male attractant signals produced by females have a pheromonal basis, at least
in part. Gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and GC-mass spectrometric analyses of bioactive methanolic
extracts of male WCM disclosed three candidate pheromone components: hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (16:Ester), (Z)-9-hexadecenoic acid methyl ester (Z9—16:Ester), and octadecanoic acid methyl ester (18:Ester). In bioassay experiments in a large Plexiglas™ arena, a blend of
synthetic 16:Ester plus Z9—16:Ester was attractive to male and virgin (but not mated) female WCM; the 18:Ester was inactive.
GC-EAD analyses of pheromone gland extracts from female WCM revealed (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadienal (E2Z13—18:Ald) and (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadienol (E2Z13—18:OH) as candidate sex pheromone components. In arena bioassay experiments, 1—5 female equivalents of synthetic E2Z13—18:Ald (0.2 ng) and E2Z13—18:OH (0.1 ng) were more attractive to male WCM than were two virgin female WCM. We anticipate that the combination of
aggregation and sex pheromones, male-produced sonic aggregation signals, and habitat-derived semiochemicals will be highly
effective in attracting male and female WCM to commercial traps.
Received 12 January 2001; accepted 8 June 2001. 相似文献
2.
Summary. Three components that elicited antennal response from male Choristoneura conflictana were found from female gland extracts analyzed using a coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detector system.
The main component in gland extracts was (Z)-11-tetradecenal (Z11-14:Ald). Two minor components also elicited antennal response: (E)11-tetradecenal (E11-14:Ald) and (Z)-11- tetradecen-1-ol (Z11-14:OH). Analysis of effluvia indicated that calling virgin females release mostly Z11-14:Ald and trace amounts of Z11-14:OH. Field and wind tunnel behavioral studies showed that Z11-14:Ald alone attracted male moths in a dose response pattern. Tests comparing male response to blends of components detected
in gland extracts showed that addition of 1.8% of E11-14:Ald to Z11-14:Ald did not influence male moths in the wind tunnel, but resulted in significantly lower trap captures in the field.
The threecomponent blend [Z11-14:Ald (100), E11-14:Ald (1.8), Z11-14:OH (11)], was less attractive than Z11-14:Ald alone in both field and wind tunnel studies. Traps baited with two virgin female moths were equally attractive to
males as traps baited with the three-component synthetic blend but less attractive than traps baited with Z11-14:Ald alone. Field tests of various blends of the two components (Z11-14:Ald, Z11-14:OH) detected in the females’ effluvia showed that the addition of 1–10% Z11-14:OH to Z11-14:Ald did not affect the males’ response to Z11-14:Ald. Our data demonstrate that female C. conflictana release sex pheromone components in a different ratio than they are stored in the pheromone gland. The sex pheromone is comprised
of a single component, Z11-14:Ald, that can be used to monitor mated and virgin male C. conflictana throughout their flight period. 相似文献
3.
Patrizia D''Ettorre Christine Errard Fernando Ibarra Wittko Francke Abraham Hefetz 《Chemoecology》2000,10(3):135-142
Summary. The dulotic queen ant, Polyergus rufescens, must first penetrate a host colony and kill the resident queen in order to successfully founding a new colony. Successful
usurpation by a newly mated queen predictably depends on a dual strategy. Although, it can sneak in by being “chemically insignificant”
with respect to cuticular hydrocarbons, it may also need to deter prospective host-worker aggressors. Chemical analysis of
Dufour's gland secretion of P. rufescens queens and workers by GS/MS revealed that queen secretion is typified by esters of butanoic acid and acetic acid, of which
decyl butanoate comprises over 80%. Butanoates and acetates are also present in the workers' secretion, but these are of higher
molecular weight, and octadecyl butanoate represents the major compound. Using synthetic mixtures of queen and worker Dufour's
gland, we tested the hypothesis that these secretions modify the aggressive behavior of the host species Formica cunicularia>. The queen-like synthetic mixture significantly reduced aggression of the host workers towards alien conspecifics, but neither
pentane nor the worker-like synthetic mixture showed this effect. Although Dufour's gland content of >Polyergus queens was suggested to function as an appeasement pheromone (Topoff et al. 1988; Mori et al. 2000), we hypothesized that it may in fact act as a repellent. In order to test this hypothesis we exposed starved F. cunicularia workers to a droplet of honey on a glass slide applied with one of the following compounds: decyl butanoate (queen major
compound), octadecyl butanoate (worker main compound), limonene (a reported ant repellent), and pentane (solvent control).
Of these, the workers were repelled only by the decyl butanoate and did not approach the honey. We conclude that during usurpation
the queen actively repels aggressive workers by emitting Dufour's gland repellent, comprising the alternative tactic in the
usurpation dual strategy. This represents another chemical weapon in the diverse arsenal used by parasites to overcome the
host's resistance.
Received 7 April 2000; accepted 17 May 2000 相似文献
4.
Klaus Peschke Peter Friedrich Uwe Kaiser Stephan Franke Wittko Francke 《Chemoecology》1999,9(2):47-54
Summary. In the rove beetle Aleochara curtula, a male specific sternal gland is described. Isopropyl (Z9)-hexadecenoate has been identified by GC/MS of surface and sternal gland extracts as a male specific compound. Its emission
in the air was demonstrated by closed-loopstripping-analyses. In field experiments, conspecific males and females were attracted
by the odor of carrion, caged males from laboratory cultures, and by the synthetic ester. Isopropyl (Z9)-hexadecenoate or live males, combined with fresh carrion attract more beetles than a fresh carcass alone. Isopropyl hexadecanoate
as a minor compound was not attractive. The term “aggregation” pheromone and the ecological significance of attracting females
to a fresh carcass allowing early copulation and egg-deposition are discussed.
Received 20 August 1998; accepted 15 January 1999. 相似文献
5.
6.
Johannes Stökl Robert Twele Dirk H. Erdmann Wittko Francke Manfred Ayasse 《Chemoecology》2007,17(4):231-233
Summary.
Ophrys flowers mimic the female produced sex pheromone of their pollinator species to attract males for pollination. The males try
to copulate with the putative female and thereby pollinate the flower. Using electrophysiological and chemical analyses, floral
volatiles released by O. iricolor as well as the female sex pheromone of its pollinator species, Andrena morio are investigated. Overall, 38 peaks comprising 41 chemical compounds, were found to release reactions in the antennae of
male A. morio bees. Analyses using coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed the presence of alkanes and alkenes with 20 to
29 carbon atoms, aldehydes (C9 to C24) and two esters. Almost all of those compounds were found in similar proportions in
both, the floral extracts of O. iricolor and cuticle surface extracts of A. morio females. The pattern of biologically active volatiles described here is very similar to that used by other Ophrys species pollinated by Andrena males. 相似文献
7.
X. Fu J. Tabata T. Takanashi S. Ohno S. Tatsuki Y. Ishikawa Y. Huang H. Honda 《Chemoecology》2004,14(3-4):175-180
Summary. The sex pheromone of Ostrinia orientalis
(Lepidoptera: Crambidae) was analyzed by gas chromatography–electroantennographic detection (GC–EAD), GC–mass spectrometry and a series of bioassays. Three EAD-active
compounds were detected in the female sex pheromone
gland extract, and identified as tetradecyl acetate (14:OAc),
(Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:OAc) and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (E11-14:OAc). The titers (ratio) of 14:OAc, Z11-14:OAc and
E11-14:OAc in 3-day-old virgin
females were 0.49 ng (10), 4.86 ng (98) and 0.10 ng (2),
respectively. In a wind-tunnel bioassay, the 98:2 blend of
Z11- and E11-14:OAc, but not Z11-14:OAc alone, elicited
the same male behavioral responses as virgin females and
crude gland extracts. 14:OAc was inactive by itself, and did
not show any synergistic effect on the binary blend.
Field trapping experiments also confirmed the attractiveness
of the binary blend to O. orientalis
males. Based on
these results, we concluded that the sex pheromone of
O. orientalis
is a 98:2 mixture of Z11-14:OAc and
E11-14:OAc. This sex pheromone is very similar to that of the Z-type European corn borer,
O. nubilalis. The present
finding raises the question of whether O. orientalis
, which is indistinguishable from O. nubilalis
based on external morphology,
is a biologically distinct species independent from
O. nubilalis. 相似文献
8.
Manfred Ayasse Wolf Engels Gunter Lübke Timo Taghizadeh Wittko Francke 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1999,45(2):95-106
The present paper reports on behavioral experiments and gas chromatographic analysis of chemical communication in the mating
biology of the primitively eusocial sweat bee Lasioglossum (Evylaeus) malachurum. In a dual-choice experiment, a female made odorless was significantly less attractive than an untreated one. Attraction in
L. (Evylaeus) malachurum is therefore mediated by a female-produced sex pheromone. Further bioassays showed that unmated gynes are more attractive
to males than mated ones. Males are able to differentiate between the two groups of females as little as 3 h after mating.
Biotests with different samples obtained from attractive gynes showed surface extracts to be most attractive. Behavioral tests
with synthetic copies of the compounds identified as cuticular constituents of virgin gynes were highly attractive to males;
the volatile bouquets consisting of n-alkanes, n-alkenes and iso- pentenyl esters of unsaturated fatty acids were the most
attractive samples. Isopentenyl esters of unsaturated fatty acids were the key compounds in inducing male inspections as well
as stimulating pounces and copulatory attempts. Virgin and nesting gynes differed clearly in the relative and absolute amounts
of the volatiles on the cuticle. The total amount of volatiles was significantly higher in virgin gynes and decreased in breeding
queens. Hydrocarbons were the dominant group of compounds in both groups of females. The relative amounts of the wax-type
ester, hexadecyl oleate, iso- pentenyl esters, and a hitherto unidentified steroid were higher in attractive virgin gynes,
while the relative proportions of hydrocarbons and lactones dominated in nesting queens. The site of sex pheromone production
in attractive young L. (Evylaeus) malachurum gynes remains unknown. Head glands or Dufour's gland secretions may be involved. Another possible source of the `active principle'
found among the cuticular lipids could be glandular cells of the epidermis. The significance of modulation of female sex pheromone
composition is discussed in terms of a reduction in mating expenditures.
Received: 30 April 1998 / Accepted after revision: 24 July 1998 相似文献
9.
A sex pheromone component novel to Ostrinia identified from Ostrinia latipennis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
Takuma Takanashi Suguru Ohno Yongping Huang Sadahiro Tatsuki Hiroshi Honda Yukio Ishikawa 《Chemoecology》2000,10(3):143-147
Summary. Extracts from the sex pheromone gland of Ostrinia latipennis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) were analyzed by gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and GC-mass spectrometry.
Only an EAD-active compound was detected in the extract, and it was identified as (E)-11-tetradecenol (E11-14:OH). In a wind-tunnel bioassay, E11-14:OH elicited a series of mate finding behaviors from males, although it was far less active than virgin females and crude
extract of the pheromone gland. The attractiveness of E11-14:OH to O. latipennis males was confirmed by field trapping experiments. Based on these findings, we concluded that E11-14:OH, which is novel to the genus Ostrinia, is a major component of the sex pheromone in O. latipennis. The significance of the use of alcohol in place of the usual acetates in Ostrinia is discussed in relation to the pheromone biosynthesis system.
Received 9 December 1999; accepted 14 March 2000 相似文献
10.
Eva S. Stangler Stefan Jarau Michael Hrncir Ronaldo Zucchi Manfred Ayasse 《Chemoecology》2009,19(1):13-19
Foragers of several species of stingless bees deposit pheromone spots in the vegetation to guide recruited nestmates to a
rich food source. Recent studies have shown that Trigona and Scaptotrigona workers secrete these pheromones from their labial glands. An earlier report stated that species within the genus Geotrigona use citral from their mandibular glands for scent marking. Since convincing experimental proof for this conjecture is lacking,
we studied the glandular origin of the trail pheromone of Geotrigona mombuca. In field bioassays, newly recruited bees were diverted by artificial scent trails that branched off from the natural scent
trail deposited by their nestmates only when they were baited with extracts from the foragers’ labial glands. Compounds extracted
from the mandibular glands, however, did not release trail following behavior. This demonstrates that the trail pheromone
of G. mombuca is produced in the labial glands, as in Trigona and Scaptotrigona. Furthermore, in chemical analyses citral was identified exclusively in the foragers’ mandibular glands, which disproves
its supposed role as a trail pheromone. The labial glands contained a series of terpene- and wax type esters, with farnesyl
butanoate as major constituent. We, therefore, postulate that the trail pheromone of G. mombuca is composed of a blend of esters. 相似文献
11.
Summary. Both male and female Holotrichia loochooana
loochooana (Sawada) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) were
attracted with female-produced pheromone, anthranilic acid
(2-aminobenzoic acid), in the field. Male chafers were
observed to apparently directly locate cotton balls impregnated
with 1 to 10 mg of pheromone. In contrast, females never
directly oriented to the treated balls but landed 0.2-1.5 m
away and exposed their abdominal glands in a calling posture,
which occasionally resulted in aggregation of both females
and males. This suggested the mating aggregation of this
species could be primarily induced by pheromone released by
females. A hypothesis for adaptability of female aggregation
is proposed and discussed. 相似文献
12.
Till Tolasch 《Chemoecology》2008,18(3):177-180
Summary.
Ectinus aterrimus (L.) is a fairly common European click beetle species which develops mainly in forests. In pheromone gland extracts of female
E. aterrimus, examined using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS), one single compound was present. This was identified as 7-methyloctyl
9-methyldecanoate by comparison with a synthetic sample. Field trapping trials revealed a highly significant attraction of
male E. aterrimus towards this ester. The structure of the compound differs remarkably from the pheromones of the closely related Agriotes spp., which exclusively use terpene esters. 相似文献
13.
Gabriel P. Hughes Annie E. Spikes Jeffrey D. Holland Matthew D. Ginzel 《Chemoecology》2011,21(2):99-105
Contact pheromones mediate mate recognition and play important roles in mating systems of longhorned beetles (Coleoptera:
Cerambycidae). One common bioassay of contact chemoreception in cerambycids involves presenting a freeze-killed female to
a male in a Petri dish arena. If the male attempts to mate with the female carcass, it confirms that mate recognition signals
are present and intact and behavior is not involved. Cuticular hydrocarbons are then stripped from the female with successive
solvent washes, rendering her unattractive to males and also resulting in a crude extract containing the cuticular hydrocarbons.
To test the bioactivity of the crude extract, the same female is then treated with the extract and presented again to the
male. Males of some species, including Megacyllene robiniae (F?rster), respond less readily to reconstituted females than to those same beetles before they were solvent-extracted. In
the present study, we test the hypothesis that the contact pheromone of M. robiniae, Z9:C25, exists as a layer on the surface of the epicuticle. We used solid phase microextraction (SPME) to sample cuticular hydrocarbons
of female beetles after they were freeze-killed, solvent washed, and treated with crude cuticular extracts. We found that
extracting cuticular hydrocarbons from females and applying the resulting crude extract back onto the solvent-washed cadaver
scrambles the wax layer and decreases the abundance of the contact pheromone presented on the surface of the insect. 相似文献
14.
Summary. To gain insight into the evolution of the sex pheromone communication system in Ostrinia (Lepidoptera Pyralidae), the sex pheromone of the burdock borer, O. zealis was analyzed by means of gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD), GC-mass spectrometry and a series of
bioassays. Four EAD-active compounds were detected in the female sex pheromone gland extract, and these were identified as
tetradecyl acetate (14:OAc), (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9–14:OAc), (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (E11-14:OAc) and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:OAc). The average amounts (ratio) of the four compounds in single sex pheromone glands were 2.5 ng (13%), 11.6 ng (61%),
4.1 ng (21%) and 0.9 ng (5%), respectively. In a wind-tunnel bioassay, the ternary blend of Z9-, E11- and Z11-14:OAc at a ratio found in the sex pheromone gland elicited the same behavioral responses from the males as did virgin
females. 14:OAc did not show any enhancement or inhibition of the males’ behavioral responses when added to the ternary blend.
The attractiveness of the 3-component lure to O. zealis males was also confirmed by field trapping experiments. Based on these results, we concluded that the sex pheromone of O. zealis is composed of Z9-14:OAc, E11-14:OAc and Z11-14:OAc at a ratio of 70:24:6. The evolutionary changes of the sex pheromones in Ostrinia are also discussed based on the presently available information on the sex pheromones and phylogenetic relationships of Ostrinia spp.
Received 25 September 1998; accepted 2 December 1998. 相似文献
15.
Sven Steiner Johannes L.M. Steidle Joachim Ruther 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》2005,58(2):111-120
Sexual selection by competition for mates is a formidable force that has led to extraordinary adaptations in males. Here we present results suggesting a novel case of pheromone mimicry in males of Lariophagus distinguendus, a parasitic wasp of beetle larvae that develop in stored grain. Females of L. distinguendus produce a pheromone even before they emerge from a grain. Males are attracted to the parasitised grain and wait for females to emerge. Males emerging later than others are under enormous selection pressure since females mate only once. We show evidence that developing males fool their earlier emerging competitors by mimicking the female pheromone. Males exposed to pupae of either sex exhibit typical courtship behaviour. Searching males are not only arrested by grains containing developing females but spend as much time on grains containing developing males. Hence, by distracting their competitors away from receptive females late males may increase their own chance to mate with these females. After emergence, males decompose the active compounds within 32 h probably to decrease molestation during their own search for mates. Chemical analyses of active pheromone extracts and bioassays using fractions demonstrate that the active compounds are among the cuticular hydrocarbons. 相似文献
16.
Summary. Male obliquebanded leafrollers, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris), were induced to respond to a pheromone source tainted with a behavioural antagonist, Z9-tetradecenyl acetate, when a source releasing the antagonist was placed 10 cm upwind of the tainted source in a wind tunnel.
However, placement of the antagonist upwind of an attractive pheromone source did not interrupt pheromone-mediated responses.
Placement of a source releasing Z9-tetradecenyl acetate, a minor pheromone component of the sympatric species, the threelined leafroller, Pandemis limitata (Robinson), upwind of a calling P. limitata female, reduced conspecific male pheromone-mediated response but resulted in upwind flight by male C. rosaceana and contact with heterospecific females. Male P. limitata locked on and flew upwind to but did not contact heterospecific females when a source releasing Z9-tetradecenyl acetate was positioned upwind of a calling C. rosaceana female. In the field, adaptation or habituation to Z9-tetradecenyl acetate caused by atmospheric treatment with this compound apparently resulted in reciprocal heterospecific
pheromone responses. More C. rosaceana males were captured in traps baited with their pheromone and the behavioural antagonist in small field plots treated atmospherically
with Z9-tetradecenyl acetate than in nontreated control plots. Fewer male P. limitata were captured in traps baited with their own pheromone, or with C. rosaceana pheromone tainted with Z9-tetradecenyl acetate in plots treated atmospherically with Z9-tetradecenyl acetate than in nontreated control plots. We argue that Z9-tetradecenyl acetate is an important synomone which assists in partitioning the sexual chemical communication channels of
C. rosaceana and P. limitata.
Received 9 February 1999; accepted 22 March 1999. 相似文献
17.
Gas chromatography with simultaneous flame ionisation and electroantennographic detection (GC–EAD) and gas chromatography
with mass spectrometry analysis (GC–MS) of abdominal extracts of adult male Dermestes haemorrhoidalis Kuster (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) revealed the presence of electrophysiologically and behaviourally active compounds to its
conspecific males and females. Isopropyl dodecanoate (3), isopropyl (Z)-9-tetradecenoate (5), isopropyl tetradecanoate (6), isopropyl (Z)-9-hexadecenoate (7) and isopropyl hexadecanoate (8) were detected in male abdominal extracts only. Analysis of collected
male headspace volatiles revealed the presence of six EAD-active compounds (3), (5), (6) and isopropyl tridecanoate (4) plus
two unidentified compounds (1) and (9). Synthetic compounds (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) showed EAD activity with antennae of
both sexes in contrast to synthetic (8) which showed EAD activity with female antennae only. Male and female antennae of D.
haemorrhoidalis reacted with high receptor potentials to isopropyl (Z)-9-dodecenoate (2), although this compound itself was detected in neither male nor female abdominal extracts or headspace
volatiles. Petri dish bioassays indicated that male abdominal extracts and compounds (2), (3), (5) and (6) aroused and attracted
conspecific male and female beetles significantly (P < 0.05) compared to female extracts. These results suggested the presence of a male-produced aggregation pheromone in D. haemorrhoidalis. Field assays with any of the described compounds, however, did not result in attraction of this beetle in significant numbers. 相似文献
18.
Summary. Two common components, identified as
(E)-11-hexadecenal (E11-16:Ald) and (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal
(E10E12-16:Ald), were found in the extract of virgin females of two sympatric pyralid moths, Terastia subjectalis
Lederer, and Agathodes ostentalis (Geyer). The amount of E11-16:Ald and E10E12-16:Ald was 0.12 and 2.8 ng/female
for T. subjectalis and 2.0 and 1.8 ng/female for A. ostentalis,
respectively. Hexadecanal (16:Ald) was also found at
0.7 ng/female in the extract of A. ostentalis, but EAG activity was unclear. In the field, T. subjectalis and
A. ostentalis
males were captured with species specific blends in the proportions
of 5:95 and 50:50 blends. Blends attractive to one
species did not attract the opposite one. Rubber septa loaded
with 1 mg each of 5:95 and 50:50 blends of E11-16:Ald and
E10E12-16:Ald were as attractive as two virgin females of
T. subjectalis and
A. ostentalis
, respectively. This demonstrated
that different ratios of shared pheromone components could
provide species specific cues for critical mate location in the
two sympatric pyralid moths. It is suggested that directional
selection probably occurs in the pheromone blends in opposite
directions in both species. 相似文献
19.
Martin J. Steinbauer Fredrik Östrand Tom E. Bellas Anna Nilson Fredrik Andersson Erik Hedenström Michael J. Lacey P. Florian Schiestl 《Chemoecology》2004,14(3-4):217-223
Summary. The autumn gum moth, Mnesampela privata
(Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), is native to Australia
and can be a pest of plantation eucalypts. Field-collected
and laboratory-reared female autumn gum moths were
dissected to remove glands likely to contain components of
the sex pheromone. Using gas chromatography (GC) and
combined gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS),
three compounds were identified from female extracts,
namely (3Z,6
Z,9
Z)-3,6,9-nonadecatriene, 1-hexadecanol
and 1-octadecanol (confirmed by comparison with synthetic
samples). Nonadecatriene elicited an antennal response in
male autumn gum moth during gas chromatographic
analyses combined with electroantennographic detection
(GC-EAD). In electroantennogram (EAG) recording male
M. privata antennae responded to the nonadecatriene. Nonadecatriene was synthesised via Kolbe electrolysis,
starting with (9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid
(linolenic acid) and propanoic acid or via an alternative
four-step method also starting from linolenic acid. In field
trials (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-nonadecatriene proved attractive
to male moths. Thus, we conclude that (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-
nonadecatriene is a sex pheromone component of autumn
gum moth. This component has been identified in extracts
from other geometrids in the same subfamily, Ennominae.
However, to our knowledge this is the first example where
(3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-nonadecatriene has been found in females
and also proved attractive to male moths when presented on its
own. Our results are discussed in relation to other geometrid
pheromones. 相似文献
20.
Alain Lenoir Am��lie Benoist Abraham Hefetz Wittko Francke Xim Cerd�� Rapha?l Boulay 《Chemoecology》2011,21(2):83-88
In the course of our studies on the chemical ecology of the widely distributed Mediterranean ant Aphaenogaster senilis, we found that trail following is triggered by extracts of the poison gland and Dufour’s gland. To assess the specificity
of the trail pheromone, we examined whether a cross-reaction exists between trails of A. senilis and the closely related species A. iberica. Specificity seemed to differ amongst these two species, because workers of A. senilis did not follow trails of A. iberica, whereas the latter followed trails made by both species. Chemical analyses of the glandular contents reveal that Dufour’s
glands of both species contain mainly alkanes and alkenes exhibiting species-specific profiles. However, differences in the
poison gland content of the two species were dramatic, with A. senilis showing high amounts of alkaloids that were completely absent in A. iberica. 相似文献