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Christian Bordereau - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Chemical communication in termites: syn-4,6-Dimethylundecan-1-ol as 3 trail-following pheromone, syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal and 4 (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal as the respective male and female sex 5 Pheromones in Hodotermopsis sjoestedti (Is
Journal of Insect Physiology, 2011Co-Authors: M. J. Lacey, David Sillam-dussès, Alain Robert, Jana Krasulová, Irena Valterová, Etienne Sémon, Richard Cornette, Michal Hoskovec, Petr Zacek, Christian BordereauAbstract:The trail-following pheromone and sex Pheromones were investigated in the Indomalayan termite Hodotermopsis sjoestedti belonging to the new family Archotermopsidae. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after solid phase microextraction (SPME) of the sternal gland secretion of pseudergates and trail-following bioassays demonstrated that the trailfollowing pheromone of H. sjoestedti was syn-4,6-dimethylundecan-1-ol, a new chemical structure for termite Pheromones. GC-MS after SPME of the sternal gland secretion of alates also allowed the identification of sex-specific compounds. In female alates, the major sex-specific compound was identified as (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal, a compound previously identified as the female sex pheromone of the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. In male alates, the major sex-specific compound was identified as syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal, a homolog of syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal, which has previously been confirmed as the male sex pheromone of Z. nevadensis. The presence of sex-specific compounds in alates of H. sjoestedti strongly suggests for this termite the presence of sex-specific pairing Pheromones which were only known until now in Z. nevadensis. Our results showed therefore a close chemical relationship between the Pheromones of the taxa Hodotermopsis and Zootermopsis and, in contrast, a clear difference with the taxa Stolotermes and Porotermes, which is in total agreement with the recent creation of the families Archotermopsidae and Stolotermitidae as a substitute for the former family Termopsidae.
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Sex Pheromones and trail-following pheromone in the basal termites Zootermopsis nevadensis (Hagen) and Z. angusticollis (Hagen) (Isoptera, Termopsidae, Termopsinae)
Biological Journal of The Linnean Society, 2010Co-Authors: Christian Bordereau, Michael J Lacey, Alain Robert, Jean Claude Braekman, Jean Ghostin, Janet Shellman Sherman, Etienne Sémon, David Sillam-dussèsAbstract:In the context of an evolutionary study of the chemical communication in termites, sex Pheromones and trail-following Pheromones were investigated in two Termopsidae, Zootermopsis nevadensis and Z. angusticollis. In these species, in which the presence of sex-specific Pheromones has been demonstrated previously, the chemical structure of the female sex pheromone has now been identified as (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal and the male sex pheromone as (+)- or (-)-syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal. The amount of sex pheromone was estimated at 5-10 ng per individual in females and 2-5 ng in males. Because these two sympatric species do not differ in their pheromonal chemical composition, reproductive isolation is probably mediated chiefly by differences in dispersal flight chronology. The trail-following pheromone was shown to be composed of the same compound as the male sex pheromone, that is syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal. The compound syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal was 10 times more active than the racemic (+/-)-syn + (+/-)-anti-4,6-dimethyldodecanal in eliciting trail-following. The amount of syn-4,6- dimethyldodecanal was estimated at 0.1-0.5 ng per pseudergate. Regarding the phylogenetic aspects, the nature of the female sex pheromone of Zootermopsis is structurally akin to the trail-following pheromone of Mastotermes darwiniensis of Mastotermitidae and Porotermes adamsoni and Stolotermes victoriensis of Termopsidae. Interestingly, the nature of the trail-following pheromone of the Termopsinae Zootermopsis is clearly different from that of the Porotermitinae P. adamsoni and the Stolotermitinae S. victoriensis, which mirrors recent molecular data on the paraphyly of Termopsidae.
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Pheromones and chemical ecology of dispersal and foraging in termites
2010Co-Authors: Christian Bordereau, Jacques PasteelsAbstract:Pheromones play a crucial role in the ecology of dispersal and foraging in termites. Sex-pairing Pheromones possess a double role of long-range attraction to unite sexual partners and a short-range or contact attraction to maintain the pair during the tandem behaviour. Sex-pairing Pheromones most often comprise a single compound capable of eliciting both behavioural effects. They appear very conservative in their evolution, and their role in the reproductive isolation of sympatric species greatly varies according to species. Species-specific sex-pairing Pheromones consist of different major compounds or of a common major compound with species-specific minor components. Foraging is a collective behaviour mainly regulated by trail-following Pheromones secreted from only one glandular source, the sternal gland. Trail-following Pheromones may be also used by “one-piece” termites to colonise additional food sources. Although trail-following Pheromones of termites have a double role of orientation and recruitment, they appear most often composed of only one compound. An alternative hypothesis is given to the postulated existence of a volatile ephemeral compound of recruitment and a long-lasting compound of orientation. Trail-following Pheromones appear highly conserved in their chemical evolution (only 8 different Pheromones for 60 species), even if a clear separation is observed between basal termites and more derived termites. The major ecological event of the external foraging was not related to a chemical evolutionary step of the trail-following Pheromones. Pheromonal parsimony (the utilisation of a same molecule for multiple functions) is common in termites in the behavioural context of dispersal and foraging. The same molecule is used in many species as a sex-pairing pheromone and a trail-following pheromone, depending upon the pheromone concentration and the caste involved.
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Trail-Following Pheromones in Basal Termites, with Special Reference to Mastotermes darwiniensis
Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2007Co-Authors: David Sillam-dussès, Michael Lenz, Michael J Lacey, Alain Robert, Etienne Sémon, Christian BordereauAbstract:In the framework of an evolutionary study, trail Pheromones have been studied in the most basal extant termite, Mastotermes darwiniensis (Mastotermitidae), and two other basal termites, the Termopsidae Porotermes adamsoni (Porotermitinae) and Stolotermes victoriensis (Stolotermitinae). Although workers of M. darwiniensis do not walk in single file while exploring a new environment under experimental conditions and are unable to follow artificial trails in ‘open field’ experiments, they do secrete a trail-following pheromone from their sternal glands. This unique behavior might reflect a primitive function of communication of the sternal gland. The major component of the pheromone appears to be the same in the three basal species: the norsesquiterpene alcohol ( E )-2,6,10-trimethyl-5,9-undecadien-1-ol. This represents a new chemical category of trail-following Pheromones for termites. The quantity of pheromone was estimated as 20 pg/individual in M. darwiniensis , 700 pg/individual in P. adamsoni , and 4 pg/individual in S. victoriensis . The activity threshold was 1 ng/cm in M. darwiniensis and 10 pg/cm in P. adamsoni . In M. darwiniensis , the trail pheromone was secreted by sternal gland 4 and to a lesser degree by sternal gland 3, sternal gland 5 being almost inactive. This study highlighted phylogenetic relationships between the Mastotermitidae and two subfamilies of the Termopsidae, the Porotermitinae and the Stolotermitinae. Furthermore, it indicated a heterogeneity within the Termopsidae, with Porotermitinae and Stolotermitinae on one hand, and Termopsinae on the other. Finally, Mastotermitidae and Termopsidae, with C14 trail Pheromones, are clearly separated from the Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, and Termitidae that secrete C12 or C20 trail Pheromones.
David Sillam-dussès - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Sex Pheromone and Trail Pheromone of the Sand Termite Psammotermes hybostoma
Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2011Co-Authors: David Sillam-dussès, Robert Hanus, Ashraf Oukasha Abd El-latif, Pavel Jiroš, Jana Krasulová, Blanka Kalinová, Irena Valterová, Jan ŠobotníkAbstract:Within the complex network of chemical signals used by termites, trail Pheromones and sex Pheromones are among the best known. Numerous recent papers map the chemical identity and glandular origin of these Pheromones in nearly all major isopteran taxa. In this study, we aimed to describe the sex pheromone and the trail pheromone of a poorly known sand termite, Psammotermes hybostoma . We identified (3 Z ,6 Z ,8 E )-dodeca-3,6,8-trien-1-ol (dodecatrienol) as the sex pheromone released by tergal and sternal glands of female imagos and, at the same time, as the trail pheromone secreted from the sternal gland of workers. We conclude that chemical communication in Psammotermes does not differ from that of most other Rhinotermitidae, such as Reticulitermes , despite the presence of a diterpene as a major component of the trail pheromone of Prorhinotermes to which Psammotermes is presumed to be phylogenetically close. Our findings underline once again the conservative nature of chemical communication in termites, with dodecatrienol being a frequent component of pheromonal signals in trail following and sex attraction and, at the same time, a tight evolutionary relationship between the trail following of working castes and the sex attraction of imagos.
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Chemical communication in termites: syn-4,6-Dimethylundecan-1-ol as 3 trail-following pheromone, syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal and 4 (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal as the respective male and female sex 5 Pheromones in Hodotermopsis sjoestedti (Is
Journal of Insect Physiology, 2011Co-Authors: M. J. Lacey, David Sillam-dussès, Alain Robert, Jana Krasulová, Irena Valterová, Etienne Sémon, Richard Cornette, Michal Hoskovec, Petr Zacek, Christian BordereauAbstract:The trail-following pheromone and sex Pheromones were investigated in the Indomalayan termite Hodotermopsis sjoestedti belonging to the new family Archotermopsidae. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after solid phase microextraction (SPME) of the sternal gland secretion of pseudergates and trail-following bioassays demonstrated that the trailfollowing pheromone of H. sjoestedti was syn-4,6-dimethylundecan-1-ol, a new chemical structure for termite Pheromones. GC-MS after SPME of the sternal gland secretion of alates also allowed the identification of sex-specific compounds. In female alates, the major sex-specific compound was identified as (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal, a compound previously identified as the female sex pheromone of the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. In male alates, the major sex-specific compound was identified as syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal, a homolog of syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal, which has previously been confirmed as the male sex pheromone of Z. nevadensis. The presence of sex-specific compounds in alates of H. sjoestedti strongly suggests for this termite the presence of sex-specific pairing Pheromones which were only known until now in Z. nevadensis. Our results showed therefore a close chemical relationship between the Pheromones of the taxa Hodotermopsis and Zootermopsis and, in contrast, a clear difference with the taxa Stolotermes and Porotermes, which is in total agreement with the recent creation of the families Archotermopsidae and Stolotermitidae as a substitute for the former family Termopsidae.
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Sex Pheromones and trail-following pheromone in the basal termites Zootermopsis nevadensis (Hagen) and Z. angusticollis (Hagen) (Isoptera, Termopsidae, Termopsinae)
Biological Journal of The Linnean Society, 2010Co-Authors: Christian Bordereau, Michael J Lacey, Alain Robert, Jean Claude Braekman, Jean Ghostin, Janet Shellman Sherman, Etienne Sémon, David Sillam-dussèsAbstract:In the context of an evolutionary study of the chemical communication in termites, sex Pheromones and trail-following Pheromones were investigated in two Termopsidae, Zootermopsis nevadensis and Z. angusticollis. In these species, in which the presence of sex-specific Pheromones has been demonstrated previously, the chemical structure of the female sex pheromone has now been identified as (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal and the male sex pheromone as (+)- or (-)-syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal. The amount of sex pheromone was estimated at 5-10 ng per individual in females and 2-5 ng in males. Because these two sympatric species do not differ in their pheromonal chemical composition, reproductive isolation is probably mediated chiefly by differences in dispersal flight chronology. The trail-following pheromone was shown to be composed of the same compound as the male sex pheromone, that is syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal. The compound syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal was 10 times more active than the racemic (+/-)-syn + (+/-)-anti-4,6-dimethyldodecanal in eliciting trail-following. The amount of syn-4,6- dimethyldodecanal was estimated at 0.1-0.5 ng per pseudergate. Regarding the phylogenetic aspects, the nature of the female sex pheromone of Zootermopsis is structurally akin to the trail-following pheromone of Mastotermes darwiniensis of Mastotermitidae and Porotermes adamsoni and Stolotermes victoriensis of Termopsidae. Interestingly, the nature of the trail-following pheromone of the Termopsinae Zootermopsis is clearly different from that of the Porotermitinae P. adamsoni and the Stolotermitinae S. victoriensis, which mirrors recent molecular data on the paraphyly of Termopsidae.
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Trail-Following Pheromones in Basal Termites, with Special Reference to Mastotermes darwiniensis
Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2007Co-Authors: David Sillam-dussès, Michael Lenz, Michael J Lacey, Alain Robert, Etienne Sémon, Christian BordereauAbstract:In the framework of an evolutionary study, trail Pheromones have been studied in the most basal extant termite, Mastotermes darwiniensis (Mastotermitidae), and two other basal termites, the Termopsidae Porotermes adamsoni (Porotermitinae) and Stolotermes victoriensis (Stolotermitinae). Although workers of M. darwiniensis do not walk in single file while exploring a new environment under experimental conditions and are unable to follow artificial trails in ‘open field’ experiments, they do secrete a trail-following pheromone from their sternal glands. This unique behavior might reflect a primitive function of communication of the sternal gland. The major component of the pheromone appears to be the same in the three basal species: the norsesquiterpene alcohol ( E )-2,6,10-trimethyl-5,9-undecadien-1-ol. This represents a new chemical category of trail-following Pheromones for termites. The quantity of pheromone was estimated as 20 pg/individual in M. darwiniensis , 700 pg/individual in P. adamsoni , and 4 pg/individual in S. victoriensis . The activity threshold was 1 ng/cm in M. darwiniensis and 10 pg/cm in P. adamsoni . In M. darwiniensis , the trail pheromone was secreted by sternal gland 4 and to a lesser degree by sternal gland 3, sternal gland 5 being almost inactive. This study highlighted phylogenetic relationships between the Mastotermitidae and two subfamilies of the Termopsidae, the Porotermitinae and the Stolotermitinae. Furthermore, it indicated a heterogeneity within the Termopsidae, with Porotermitinae and Stolotermitinae on one hand, and Termopsinae on the other. Finally, Mastotermitidae and Termopsidae, with C14 trail Pheromones, are clearly separated from the Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, and Termitidae that secrete C12 or C20 trail Pheromones.
Etienne Sémon - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Chemical communication in termites: syn-4,6-Dimethylundecan-1-ol as 3 trail-following pheromone, syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal and 4 (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal as the respective male and female sex 5 Pheromones in Hodotermopsis sjoestedti (Is
Journal of Insect Physiology, 2011Co-Authors: M. J. Lacey, David Sillam-dussès, Alain Robert, Jana Krasulová, Irena Valterová, Etienne Sémon, Richard Cornette, Michal Hoskovec, Petr Zacek, Christian BordereauAbstract:The trail-following pheromone and sex Pheromones were investigated in the Indomalayan termite Hodotermopsis sjoestedti belonging to the new family Archotermopsidae. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after solid phase microextraction (SPME) of the sternal gland secretion of pseudergates and trail-following bioassays demonstrated that the trailfollowing pheromone of H. sjoestedti was syn-4,6-dimethylundecan-1-ol, a new chemical structure for termite Pheromones. GC-MS after SPME of the sternal gland secretion of alates also allowed the identification of sex-specific compounds. In female alates, the major sex-specific compound was identified as (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal, a compound previously identified as the female sex pheromone of the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. In male alates, the major sex-specific compound was identified as syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal, a homolog of syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal, which has previously been confirmed as the male sex pheromone of Z. nevadensis. The presence of sex-specific compounds in alates of H. sjoestedti strongly suggests for this termite the presence of sex-specific pairing Pheromones which were only known until now in Z. nevadensis. Our results showed therefore a close chemical relationship between the Pheromones of the taxa Hodotermopsis and Zootermopsis and, in contrast, a clear difference with the taxa Stolotermes and Porotermes, which is in total agreement with the recent creation of the families Archotermopsidae and Stolotermitidae as a substitute for the former family Termopsidae.
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Sex Pheromones and trail-following pheromone in the basal termites Zootermopsis nevadensis (Hagen) and Z. angusticollis (Hagen) (Isoptera, Termopsidae, Termopsinae)
Biological Journal of The Linnean Society, 2010Co-Authors: Christian Bordereau, Michael J Lacey, Alain Robert, Jean Claude Braekman, Jean Ghostin, Janet Shellman Sherman, Etienne Sémon, David Sillam-dussèsAbstract:In the context of an evolutionary study of the chemical communication in termites, sex Pheromones and trail-following Pheromones were investigated in two Termopsidae, Zootermopsis nevadensis and Z. angusticollis. In these species, in which the presence of sex-specific Pheromones has been demonstrated previously, the chemical structure of the female sex pheromone has now been identified as (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal and the male sex pheromone as (+)- or (-)-syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal. The amount of sex pheromone was estimated at 5-10 ng per individual in females and 2-5 ng in males. Because these two sympatric species do not differ in their pheromonal chemical composition, reproductive isolation is probably mediated chiefly by differences in dispersal flight chronology. The trail-following pheromone was shown to be composed of the same compound as the male sex pheromone, that is syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal. The compound syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal was 10 times more active than the racemic (+/-)-syn + (+/-)-anti-4,6-dimethyldodecanal in eliciting trail-following. The amount of syn-4,6- dimethyldodecanal was estimated at 0.1-0.5 ng per pseudergate. Regarding the phylogenetic aspects, the nature of the female sex pheromone of Zootermopsis is structurally akin to the trail-following pheromone of Mastotermes darwiniensis of Mastotermitidae and Porotermes adamsoni and Stolotermes victoriensis of Termopsidae. Interestingly, the nature of the trail-following pheromone of the Termopsinae Zootermopsis is clearly different from that of the Porotermitinae P. adamsoni and the Stolotermitinae S. victoriensis, which mirrors recent molecular data on the paraphyly of Termopsidae.
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Trail-Following Pheromones in Basal Termites, with Special Reference to Mastotermes darwiniensis
Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2007Co-Authors: David Sillam-dussès, Michael Lenz, Michael J Lacey, Alain Robert, Etienne Sémon, Christian BordereauAbstract:In the framework of an evolutionary study, trail Pheromones have been studied in the most basal extant termite, Mastotermes darwiniensis (Mastotermitidae), and two other basal termites, the Termopsidae Porotermes adamsoni (Porotermitinae) and Stolotermes victoriensis (Stolotermitinae). Although workers of M. darwiniensis do not walk in single file while exploring a new environment under experimental conditions and are unable to follow artificial trails in ‘open field’ experiments, they do secrete a trail-following pheromone from their sternal glands. This unique behavior might reflect a primitive function of communication of the sternal gland. The major component of the pheromone appears to be the same in the three basal species: the norsesquiterpene alcohol ( E )-2,6,10-trimethyl-5,9-undecadien-1-ol. This represents a new chemical category of trail-following Pheromones for termites. The quantity of pheromone was estimated as 20 pg/individual in M. darwiniensis , 700 pg/individual in P. adamsoni , and 4 pg/individual in S. victoriensis . The activity threshold was 1 ng/cm in M. darwiniensis and 10 pg/cm in P. adamsoni . In M. darwiniensis , the trail pheromone was secreted by sternal gland 4 and to a lesser degree by sternal gland 3, sternal gland 5 being almost inactive. This study highlighted phylogenetic relationships between the Mastotermitidae and two subfamilies of the Termopsidae, the Porotermitinae and the Stolotermitinae. Furthermore, it indicated a heterogeneity within the Termopsidae, with Porotermitinae and Stolotermitinae on one hand, and Termopsinae on the other. Finally, Mastotermitidae and Termopsidae, with C14 trail Pheromones, are clearly separated from the Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, and Termitidae that secrete C12 or C20 trail Pheromones.
Alain Robert - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Chemical communication in termites: syn-4,6-Dimethylundecan-1-ol as 3 trail-following pheromone, syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal and 4 (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal as the respective male and female sex 5 Pheromones in Hodotermopsis sjoestedti (Is
Journal of Insect Physiology, 2011Co-Authors: M. J. Lacey, David Sillam-dussès, Alain Robert, Jana Krasulová, Irena Valterová, Etienne Sémon, Richard Cornette, Michal Hoskovec, Petr Zacek, Christian BordereauAbstract:The trail-following pheromone and sex Pheromones were investigated in the Indomalayan termite Hodotermopsis sjoestedti belonging to the new family Archotermopsidae. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after solid phase microextraction (SPME) of the sternal gland secretion of pseudergates and trail-following bioassays demonstrated that the trailfollowing pheromone of H. sjoestedti was syn-4,6-dimethylundecan-1-ol, a new chemical structure for termite Pheromones. GC-MS after SPME of the sternal gland secretion of alates also allowed the identification of sex-specific compounds. In female alates, the major sex-specific compound was identified as (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal, a compound previously identified as the female sex pheromone of the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. In male alates, the major sex-specific compound was identified as syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal, a homolog of syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal, which has previously been confirmed as the male sex pheromone of Z. nevadensis. The presence of sex-specific compounds in alates of H. sjoestedti strongly suggests for this termite the presence of sex-specific pairing Pheromones which were only known until now in Z. nevadensis. Our results showed therefore a close chemical relationship between the Pheromones of the taxa Hodotermopsis and Zootermopsis and, in contrast, a clear difference with the taxa Stolotermes and Porotermes, which is in total agreement with the recent creation of the families Archotermopsidae and Stolotermitidae as a substitute for the former family Termopsidae.
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Sex Pheromones and trail-following pheromone in the basal termites Zootermopsis nevadensis (Hagen) and Z. angusticollis (Hagen) (Isoptera, Termopsidae, Termopsinae)
Biological Journal of The Linnean Society, 2010Co-Authors: Christian Bordereau, Michael J Lacey, Alain Robert, Jean Claude Braekman, Jean Ghostin, Janet Shellman Sherman, Etienne Sémon, David Sillam-dussèsAbstract:In the context of an evolutionary study of the chemical communication in termites, sex Pheromones and trail-following Pheromones were investigated in two Termopsidae, Zootermopsis nevadensis and Z. angusticollis. In these species, in which the presence of sex-specific Pheromones has been demonstrated previously, the chemical structure of the female sex pheromone has now been identified as (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal and the male sex pheromone as (+)- or (-)-syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal. The amount of sex pheromone was estimated at 5-10 ng per individual in females and 2-5 ng in males. Because these two sympatric species do not differ in their pheromonal chemical composition, reproductive isolation is probably mediated chiefly by differences in dispersal flight chronology. The trail-following pheromone was shown to be composed of the same compound as the male sex pheromone, that is syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal. The compound syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal was 10 times more active than the racemic (+/-)-syn + (+/-)-anti-4,6-dimethyldodecanal in eliciting trail-following. The amount of syn-4,6- dimethyldodecanal was estimated at 0.1-0.5 ng per pseudergate. Regarding the phylogenetic aspects, the nature of the female sex pheromone of Zootermopsis is structurally akin to the trail-following pheromone of Mastotermes darwiniensis of Mastotermitidae and Porotermes adamsoni and Stolotermes victoriensis of Termopsidae. Interestingly, the nature of the trail-following pheromone of the Termopsinae Zootermopsis is clearly different from that of the Porotermitinae P. adamsoni and the Stolotermitinae S. victoriensis, which mirrors recent molecular data on the paraphyly of Termopsidae.
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Trail-Following Pheromones in Basal Termites, with Special Reference to Mastotermes darwiniensis
Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2007Co-Authors: David Sillam-dussès, Michael Lenz, Michael J Lacey, Alain Robert, Etienne Sémon, Christian BordereauAbstract:In the framework of an evolutionary study, trail Pheromones have been studied in the most basal extant termite, Mastotermes darwiniensis (Mastotermitidae), and two other basal termites, the Termopsidae Porotermes adamsoni (Porotermitinae) and Stolotermes victoriensis (Stolotermitinae). Although workers of M. darwiniensis do not walk in single file while exploring a new environment under experimental conditions and are unable to follow artificial trails in ‘open field’ experiments, they do secrete a trail-following pheromone from their sternal glands. This unique behavior might reflect a primitive function of communication of the sternal gland. The major component of the pheromone appears to be the same in the three basal species: the norsesquiterpene alcohol ( E )-2,6,10-trimethyl-5,9-undecadien-1-ol. This represents a new chemical category of trail-following Pheromones for termites. The quantity of pheromone was estimated as 20 pg/individual in M. darwiniensis , 700 pg/individual in P. adamsoni , and 4 pg/individual in S. victoriensis . The activity threshold was 1 ng/cm in M. darwiniensis and 10 pg/cm in P. adamsoni . In M. darwiniensis , the trail pheromone was secreted by sternal gland 4 and to a lesser degree by sternal gland 3, sternal gland 5 being almost inactive. This study highlighted phylogenetic relationships between the Mastotermitidae and two subfamilies of the Termopsidae, the Porotermitinae and the Stolotermitinae. Furthermore, it indicated a heterogeneity within the Termopsidae, with Porotermitinae and Stolotermitinae on one hand, and Termopsinae on the other. Finally, Mastotermitidae and Termopsidae, with C14 trail Pheromones, are clearly separated from the Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, and Termitidae that secrete C12 or C20 trail Pheromones.
Jocelyn G. Millar - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Effects of Pheromone Dose and Conspecific Density on the Use of Aggregation-Sex Pheromones by the Longhorn Beetle Phymatodes grandis and Sympatric Species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2019Co-Authors: R. Maxwell Collignon, Jonathan A. Cale, J. Steven Mcelfresh, Jocelyn G. MillarAbstract:Many species of longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) utilize male-produced aggregation-sex Pheromones that attract both sexes. However, the reasons why and the details of how this type of pheromone is used by cerambycids and other coleopteran species that utilize analogous male-produced Pheromones remain unclear. Thus, our goals were to test the hypotheses that 1) cerambycids respond to Pheromones in a dose-dependent (= release rate-dependent) manner and 2) pheromone emission is density-dependent. If true, these characteristics of pheromone use could suggest that cerambycids utilize an optimal density strategy to limit competition for scarce and ephemeral hosts, i.e., the stressed or dying trees that typically constitute their larval hosts. Attraction of beetles to a range of release rates of two common pheromone components – 2-methylbutanol and 3-hydroxyhexan-2-one – was tested in field trials. Responses, as measured by the number of beetles caught in pheromone-baited traps, increased with release rates for five endemic species, even at the highest rates tested (~1450 μg/h for 2-methylbutanol and ~720 μg/h for 3-hydroxyhexan-2-one). The effect of density of conspecific males on per capita pheromone production was tested by collecting the volatiles produced by individuals, pairs, or groups of three or four male Phymatodes grandis Casey. Frequency of pheromone production was significantly different among the treatment densities, and emission rates of the pheromone ( R )-2-methylbutanol decreased with increasing density. These results are discussed in the context of a possible optimal density strategy used by cerambycids, and more broadly, in relation to the use of male-produced aggregation-sex Pheromones by other coleopterans. In addition, we report the identification of the Pheromones of four of our five test species, specifically, Phymatodes obliquus Casey, Brothylus conspersus LeConte, Brothylus gemmulatus LeConte, and Xylotrechus albonotatus Casey.
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The Influence of Host Plant Volatiles on the Attraction of Longhorn Beetles to Pheromones
Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2016Co-Authors: R. Maxwell Collignon, J. Steven Mcelfresh, Ian P. Swift, Lawrence M. Hanks, Jocelyn G. MillarAbstract:Host plant volatiles have been shown to strongly synergize the attraction of some longhorn beetle species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) to their Pheromones. This synergism is well documented among species that infest conifers, but less so for angiosperm-infesting species. To explore the extent of this phenomenon in the Cerambycidae, we first tested the responses of a cerambycid community to a generic pheromone blend in the presence or absence of chipped material from host plants as a source of host volatiles. In the second phase, blends of oak and conifer volatiles were reconstructed, and tested at low, medium, and high release rates with the pheromone blend. For conifer-infesting species in the subfamilies Spondylidinae and Lamiinae, conifer volatiles released at the high rate synergized attraction of some species to the pheromone blend. When comparing high-release rate conifer blend with high-release rate α-pinene as a single component, species responses varied, with Asemum nitidum LeConte being most attracted to Pheromones plus α-pinene, whereas Neospondylis upiformis (Mannerheim) were most attracted to Pheromones plus conifer blend and ethanol. For oak-infesting species in the subfamily Cerambycinae, with the exception of Phymatodes grandis Casey, which were most attracted to Pheromones plus ethanol, neither synthetic oak blend nor ethanol increased attraction to Pheromones. The results indicate that the responses to combinations of Pheromones with host plant volatiles varied from synergistic to antagonistic, depending on beetle species. Release rates of host plant volatiles also were important, with some high release rates being antagonistic for oak-infesting species, but acting synergistically for conifer-infesting species.
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Pheromone-Baited Traps for Assessment of Seasonal Activity and Population Densities of Mealybug Species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Nurseries Producing Ornamental Plants
Journal of Economic Entomology, 2011Co-Authors: Rebeccah A. Waterworth, Richard A. Redak, Jocelyn G. MillarAbstract:ABSTRACT Operational parameters of traps baited with the Pheromones of three mealybug species were optimized in nurseries producing ornamental plants. All pheromone doses (1-320 µg) attracted Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti) and Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret) males, with the lowest dose (1 µg) attracting the fewest males for both species. Doses of 3.2–100 µg were as attractive to male P. longispinus as the highest dose (320 µg); doses from 10 to 320 µg were equally attractive for P. viburni males. Lures containing 25-µg doses of either pheromone had effective field lifetimes of at least 12 wk. Experiments were performed to test the efficacy of combining multiple Pheromones to attract several species of mealybugs simultaneously. Lures loaded with a mixture of the Pheromones of P. longispinus, P. viburni, and Planococcus citri (Risso) were as attractive to P. viburni and P. citri as lures with their individual Pheromones. Response of P. longispinus to the blend was decreased by 38% compared wit...
