title: Chemical communication in termites: syn-4,6-dimethylundecan-1-ol as trail-following pheromone, syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal and (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal as the respective male and female sex pheromones in Hodotermopsis sjoestedti (Isoptera, Archotermopsidae).
abstract: The trail-following pheromone and sex pheromones were investigated in the Indomalayan termite Hodotermopsis sjoestedti belonging to the new family Archotermopsidae. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after solid phase microextraction (SPME) of the sternal gland secretion of pseudergates and trail-following bioassays demonstrated that the trail-following pheromone of H. sjoestedti was syn-4,6-dimethylundecan-1-ol, a new chemical structure for termite pheromones. GC-MS after SPME of the sternal gland secretion of alates also allowed the identification of sex-specific compounds. In female alates, the major sex-specific compound was identified as (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal, a compound previously identified as the female sex pheromone of the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. In male alates, the major sex-specific compound was identified as syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal, a homolog of syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal, which has previously been confirmed as the male sex pheromone of Z. nevadensis. The presence of sex-specific compounds in alates of H. sjoestedti strongly suggests for this termite the presence of sex-specific pairing pheromones which were only known until now in Z. nevadensis. Our results showed therefore a close chemical relationship between the pheromones of the taxa Hodotermopsis and Zootermopsis and, in contrast, a clear difference with the taxa Stolotermes and Porotermes, which is in total agreement with the recent creation of the families Archotermopsidae and Stolotermitidae as a substitute for the former family Termopsidae.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, G.P.O. Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lacey
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sémon
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krasulová
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sillam-Dussès
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cornette
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoskovec
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Záček
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Valterová
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bordereau
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D020049:Isoptera / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
chemical_list: C569425:2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal; C569423:4,6-dimethylundecan-1-ol; C569424:4,6-dimethylundecanal; D000447:Aldehydes; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D012724:Sex Attractants