title: Defensive and pheromonal secretion of the tergal gland ofAleochara curtula II. Release and inhibition of male copulatory behavior.
abstract: At high concentrations, the defensive tergal gland secretion (TGS)(3) of the staphylinid beetle,Aleochara curtula, inhibits the male copulatory response (grasping with parameres). Inhibitory chemicals, for which a function as alarm substances is assumed, aren-undecane, 1-undecene,n-dodecanal, toluquinone, and 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone. When emitted in small amounts, however, the TGS releases the male grasping response. The main components with aphrodisiac effect are (Z)-4-tridecene,n-dodecanal, and (Z)-5-tetradecenal. These supplementary mating stimulants, which are not sex specific, work synergistically with the aphrodisiac female sex pheromone from thé epicuticular lipids and are discussed as alerting pheromones of short-term effect. Antennal movements of resting males as an indication of the recognition of a female and the approach to the mate are released at somewhat longer distances, when the TGS is additionally present.
authors.affiliation: Zoologisches Institut III der Universität Würzburg, Röntgenring 10, D-8700, Würzburg, West Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peschke