title: Sex-pairing pheromone in the Asian termite pest species Odontotermes formosanus.
abstract: The sex-pairing pheromone of the black winged subterranean termite, Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) (Isoptera, Termitidae), was investigated using headspace-SPME, GC-MS, GC-EAD, and attraction bioassays. Females secrete the pheromone from their sternal gland to attract males. The sex-pairing pheromone is composed of (Z,Z)-dodeca-3,6-dien-1-ol and (Z)-dodec-3-en-1-ol, estimated at 9 to 16.64 ng and 0.2 to 0.54 ng, respectively. Both short- and long-distance sex attraction bioassays were employed to show that these compounds act in synergy at long distance, but only (Z,Z)-dodeca-3,6-dien-1-ol is active at short distance. The pheromone may be useful in efforts to control this pest, which is considered one of the most harmful termite species in Southeast Asia.
authors.affiliation: College of Forest Resources and Environment in Nanjing Forestry University (NJFU), Nanjing, 210037, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Bao-Zhong
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Shu-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sillam-Dussès
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D020049:Isoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction
chemical_list: D012724:Sex Attractants