Sex pheromone perception in male pine sawflies, Neodiprion sertifer (Hymenoptera; Diprionidae).
Electroantennographic and single sensillum recordings were performed on male pine sawfly, Neodiprion sertifer, antennae. Responses to the sex pheromone component (2S, 3S, 7S)- 3,7-dimethyl-2-pentadecenyl (diprionyl) acetate (SSS:OAc), to the behavioral inhibitor (2S, 3R, 7R)-diprionyl acetate (SRR:OAc), to the six other enantiomers of diprionyl acetate, and to the biosynthetic precursor diprionol were recorded. Responses to trans-perillenal, a monoterpene identified in female gland extracts and to (2S, 3S, 7S)-diprionyl propionate (SSS:OPr), a field attractant for N. sertifer and some related sawfly species were also recorded. EAG recordings demonstrated a high antennal sensitivity to SSS:OAc and to SSS:OPr. A somewhat lower response was elicited by SRR:OAc. Single sensillum recordings revealed 8-12 different cells firing in each sensillum, corresponding to the number of cells observed in earlier morphological investigations. Out of these cells all, except one, responded to SSS:OAc and to SSS:OPr. No differences in the response to the two components could be observed. The largest amplitude cell in each sensillum was specifically tuned to the behavioral antagonist, SRR:OAc. The pheromone perception system encountered in male pine sawflies thus differs clearly from that observed in moths.
Hansson
B S
BS
Department of Ecology, University of Lund, Sweden.
Van der Pers
J N
JN
Högberg
H E
HE
Hedenström
E
E
Anderbrant
O
O
Löfqvist
J
J
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012724:Sex Attractants; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*
D012724:Sex Attractants