title: (E,E)-alpha-farnesene, an alarm pheromone of the termite Prorhinotermes canalifrons.
abstract: The behavioral and electroantennographic responses of Prorhinotermes canalifrons to its soldier frontal gland secretion, and two separated major components of the secretion, (E)-1-nitropentadec-1-ene and (E,E)-alpha-farnesene, were studied in laboratory experiments. Behavioral experiments showed that both the frontal gland secretion and (E,E)-alpha-farnesene triggered alarm reactions in P. canalifrons, whereas (E)-1-nitropentadec-1-ene did not affect the behavior of termite groups. The alarm reactions were characterized by rapid walking of activated termites and efforts to alert and activate other members of the group. Behavioral responses to alarm pheromone differed between homogeneous and mixed groups, suggesting complex interactions. Antennae of both soldiers and pseudergates were sensitive to the frontal gland secretion and to (E,E)-alpha-farnesene, but soldiers showed stronger responses. The dose responses to (E,E)-alpha-farnesene were identical for both soldiers and pseudergates, suggesting that both castes use similar receptors to perceive (E,E)-alpha-farnesene. Our data confirm (E,E)-alpha-farnesene as an alarm pheromone of P. canalifrons.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, vvi, Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Praha 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sobotník
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hanus
authors.forename: Blanka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kalinová
authors.forename: Rafal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piskorski
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cvacka
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bourguignon
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Roisin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020049:Isoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000502:physiology*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C062672:alpha-farnesene