Volatile substances in the pygidial secretion of gyrinid beetles (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) |
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Authors: | Per Ivarsson Britt-Inger Henrikson Jan A E Stenson |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Botany, Chemical Ecology, Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22, S-143 19 Göteborg, Sweden;(2) Department of Zoology, Animal Ecology, University of Göteborg, Medicinaregatan 18, S-413 90 Göteborg, Sweden;(3) Department of Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, Mail stop 330, 89557-0014 Reno, Nevada, USA |
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Abstract: | Summary Gyrinid beetles are common in freshwater habitats. They have paired pygidial glands with a secretion that contains high molecular weight substances rendering them toxic for predatory fish. In this paper we report on a laboratory study on volatile components released by three different gyrinid species when irritated. The volatile pattern had a clear difference between the different species.Gyrinus substriatus andG. aeratus, both produced 3-methyl-1-butanal and 3-methyl-1-butanol when irritated, but in quite different amounts. The third tested species,G. minutus, did not produce any substances above the detection level. It is suggested that the volatile compounds may be part of the beetles' communication and/or defence system. |
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Keywords: | volatile substances pygidial secretion defence communication species differences Coleoptera Gyrinidae Gyrinus spp |
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