title: Chemical identification and ethological function of soldier-specific secretion in Japanese subterranean termite Reticulitermes speratus (Rhinotermitidae).
abstract: We identified the soldier-specific compounds in the Japanese subterranean termite, Reticulitermes speratus, to clarify their ethological roles. Silica gel column chromatography separated one major soldier-specific compound in the hexane fraction accounting for 70-80% of the total amount of the fraction, while cuticular hydrocarbons constituted the rest. We identified the compound as β-selinene by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Comparative GC analyses of the major exocrine glands detected the compound in the soldier's frontal gland. Both soldiers and workers made aggregation to the hexane fraction, as well as to the crushed heads and head extract of the soldiers. They did not aggregate to cuticular hydrocarbons, making it likely that β-selinene was the aggregation pheromone in this species. The opportunistic predator of this termite, Lasius japonicus, was also attracted to the compounds. The ant workers, therefore, would use the termite aggregation pheromone as a kairomone for hunting them.
authors: Chemical Ecology Laboratory, Kyoto Institute of Technology. nttuan74@yahoo.com
authors: Tuan T
authors: TT
authors: Nguyen
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Kanaori
authors: Masaru K
authors: MK
authors: Hojo
authors: Tatsuro
authors: T
authors: Kawada
authors: Ryohei
authors: R
authors: Yamaoka
authors: Toshiharu
authors: T
authors: Akino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005010:Ethology / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006586:Hexanes / Q000737:chemistry; D020049:Isoptera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007564:Japan; D010675:Pheromones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D045787:Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006586:Hexanes; D010675:Pheromones; D045787:Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane; D013729:Terpenes; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; C087920:beta-selinene