The trail/sex pheromone, (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodecatrien-1-ol (DTE) titers in the sternal glands of male and female alates as well as workers of Coptotermes formosanus, Reticulitermes flavipes, and R. virginicus were examined. This is the first report of DTE from workers of R. flavipes and alates of all three species. Quantifiation of DTE was performed on the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative, detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Female alates of all the three species contained similar amounts of DTE (189-262 pg/alate), with males of C. formosanus and R. flavipes having equal amounts, while R. virginicus males had less than 25% of that found in the female. Workers of the three species also contained similar amounts of DTE (95-137 pg/worker). Holding workers for a month in the lab did not cause a significant drop in the DTE levels. The TMS-derivative of four synthetic isomers (Z,Z,E)-, (Z,Z,Z)-, (Z,E,Z)-, and (Z,E,E)-DTE were also separated by GC-MS and compared to the DTE from the three termite species. All termite samples of DTE were found to correspond to the (Z,Z,E)-DTE isomer. Trail-following assays with C. formosanus workers showed only the (Z,Z,E)-DTE isomer to be active at 10 pg/cm. Electroantennographic analysis showed C. formosanus and R. flavipes workers to respond to (Z,Z,E)-DTE in a similar dose-dependent manner.
Comparative Analysis of the Sex/Trail Pheromone, 3,6,8-Dodecatrien-1-ol, from Three Species of Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
CARPITA, ADRIANO;
2007-01-01
Abstract
The trail/sex pheromone, (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodecatrien-1-ol (DTE) titers in the sternal glands of male and female alates as well as workers of Coptotermes formosanus, Reticulitermes flavipes, and R. virginicus were examined. This is the first report of DTE from workers of R. flavipes and alates of all three species. Quantifiation of DTE was performed on the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative, detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Female alates of all the three species contained similar amounts of DTE (189-262 pg/alate), with males of C. formosanus and R. flavipes having equal amounts, while R. virginicus males had less than 25% of that found in the female. Workers of the three species also contained similar amounts of DTE (95-137 pg/worker). Holding workers for a month in the lab did not cause a significant drop in the DTE levels. The TMS-derivative of four synthetic isomers (Z,Z,E)-, (Z,Z,Z)-, (Z,E,Z)-, and (Z,E,E)-DTE were also separated by GC-MS and compared to the DTE from the three termite species. All termite samples of DTE were found to correspond to the (Z,Z,E)-DTE isomer. Trail-following assays with C. formosanus workers showed only the (Z,Z,E)-DTE isomer to be active at 10 pg/cm. Electroantennographic analysis showed C. formosanus and R. flavipes workers to respond to (Z,Z,E)-DTE in a similar dose-dependent manner.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.