title: Cuticular hydrocarbons ofReticulitermes virginicus (Banks) and their role as potential species- and caste-recognition cues.
abstract: The cuticular hydrocarbon components of four castes ofReticulitermes virginicus (Banks) have been identified and quantitated. Components identified includen-alkanes; 2-, 3-, 11-, 13-, and 15-methyl-alkanes; 11,15-dimethylalkanes, (Z)-9-alkenes; (Z,Z)-7,9-dienes; and (E/Z)-6,9-dienes ranging in carbon number from C21 to C40. All caste forms ofR.virginicus contained the same components, but showed caste-specific proportions. Comparison of these hydrocarbons with those of the sympatric termiteR. flavipes (Kollar) suggest that cuticular hydrocarbons might serve as species- and caste-recognition cues. A bioassay was developed to test this species-recognition hypothesis, with the experimental results supporting the hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Forestry Sciences Laboratory, P. O. Box 2008, 39503, GMF Gulfport, Mississippi.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McDaniel
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Blomquist
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Gelbaum
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Zalkow