ISSN:
1432-1904
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Natural Sciences in General
Notes:
Abstract Olfactory perception and orientation behaviour of female and male flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum, T. confusum) to single stereoisomers of their aggregation pheromone revealed maximal receptor potentials and optimal attraction in response to 4R,8R-(−)-dimethyldecanal, whereas its optical antipode 4S,8S-(+)-dimethyldecanal was found to be inactive in this respect. Female flour beetles of both species were ≈ 103 times less attracted to 4R,8S-(+)- and 4S,8R-(−)-dimethyldecanal than to 4R,8R-(−)-dimethyldecanal, while male flour beetles failed to respond to the R,S-(+)- and S,R-(−)-stereoisomers. Pheromone extracts of prothoracic femora from unmated male flour beetles elicited higher receptor potentials in the antennae of females than in those of males. The results suggest that the aggregation pheromone emitted by maleT. castaneum as well as maleT. confusum has the stereochemical structure of 4R,8R-(−)-dimethyl-decanal, which acts as sex attractant for the females and as aggregant for the males of both species.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01047557
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