title: Andrena wilkella male bees discriminate between enantiomers of cephalic secretion components.
abstract: Diastereomers of the spiroacetal, 2,8-dimethyl-1,7-dioxaspiro [5.5]undecane, represent main components of the cephalic secretion from males of the solitary bee,Andrena wilkella. The major compound proved to be of high enantiomeric purity, showing (2S,6R,8S) configuration. Only the naturally occurring enantiomer attracted patrolling males in the field; its antipode was behaviorally inactive and in a racemic mixture did not inhibit response. The (E,Z) diastereomers were also found to be almost inactive. EAG studies gave the same result as the behavioral tests. The biological function of the spiroacetal is discussed in view of the evolution of the mating behavior inA. wilkella.
authors.affiliation: Ecological Research Station of Uppsala University, S-386 00, Färjestaden, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tengö
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agren
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baur
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isaksson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liljefors
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Francke