title: Sex pheromone of the American warble fly, Dermatobia hominis: the role of cuticular hydrocarbons.
abstract: Chemical communication between adults of the American warble fly, Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Oestridae), was investigated by electroantennography and behavioral bioassays. Significant electroantennographic responses were recorded from both sexes to hexane-soluble cuticular lipids from either sex. Olfactometer tests indicated an attraction between males and females, and between females. Copulatory behavior of males with a white knotted string treated with female extract confirmed production of a sexual stimulant by females. Such behavior was not observed in tests with male extract, demonstrating that the pheromone acts also as a sex recognition factor. Cuticular hydrocarbons of sexually mature female and male D. hominis were identified by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and consist of a mixture of saturated n-, monomethyl-, and dimethylalkanes in both sexes. Sexual dimorphism was characterized by a higher relative concentration of dimethylalkanes in males and the presence of alkenes only in females.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, UFRRJ, Seropédica, BR 465, Km 07, Rio de Janeiro 23890-000, Brazil. guliasgomes@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Claudia Cristina
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gulias Gomes
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Trigo
authors.forename: Alvaro Eduardo
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Eiras
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004175:Diptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012724:Sex Attractants; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D012724:Sex Attractants