Evidence for four-component close-range sex pheromone in the parasitic wasp Glyptapanteles flavicoxis.
Females of the parasitic wasp Glyptapanteles flavicoxis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) deposit a close-range sex pheromone from their abdominal tip that attracts conspecific males and elicits wing-fanning behavior. In this study, we isolated the pheromone components and determined their role in the males' behavior. In coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) analyses of the females' body extract, four components (below GC detection) elicited strong responses from male antennae. Monitored by GC-EAD, the components were separated by flash silica gel and high-performance liquid chromatography. Y-tube olfactometer experiments with one or more components revealed that all are necessary to elicit short-range attraction and wing-fanning responses by males. These components remained below detection threshold of the mass spectrometer (approximately 10 pg) even when 4500 female equivalents were analyzed in a single injection, which attests to the potency of the pheromone and the insects' sensitivity to it.
Danci
Adela
A
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
Gries
Regine
R
Schaefer
Paul W
PW
Gries
Gerhard
G
D000818:Animals; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014863:Wasps / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
D012724:Sex Attractants