Sexual communication in the termite Prorhinotermes simplex (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae) mediated by a pheromone from female tergal glands

We studied the post-flight behavior and sex attraction in imagoes of the termite Prorhinotermes simplex (Rhinotermitidae, Prorhinotermitinae). Pairing is mediated by the secretion from tergal glands, exposed by females in a calling posture and highly attractive to males. Analysis of extracts of thes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Insectes sociaux 2009, Vol.56 (2), p.111-118
Main Authors: Hanus, R., Luxová, A., Šobotník, J., Kalinová, B., Jiroš, P., Křeček, J., Bourguignon, T., Bordereau, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Entomology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Isoptera
Life Sciences
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Research Article
Rhinotermitidae
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Summary:We studied the post-flight behavior and sex attraction in imagoes of the termite Prorhinotermes simplex (Rhinotermitidae, Prorhinotermitinae). Pairing is mediated by the secretion from tergal glands, exposed by females in a calling posture and highly attractive to males. Analysis of extracts of these glands by means of gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection indicated a chromatographic area corresponding to an intense physiological response of males. The retention characteristics of this area proved to be identical with those of (3 Z ,6 Z ,8 E )-dodeca-3,6,8-trien-1-ol. Electroantennographic and behavioral assays revealed that units of picograms of the compound represent a stimulus qualitatively and quantitatively equivalent to one female tergal gland. Thus, we hypothesize that (3 Z ,6 Z ,8 E )-dodeca-3,6,8-trien-1-ol is a major component of the female sex pheromone in P. simplex .
ISSN:0020-1812
1420-9098
DOI:10.1007/s00040-009-0005-5