title: Wax, sex and the origin of species: Dual roles of insect cuticular hydrocarbons in adaptation and mating.
abstract: Evolutionary changes in traits that affect both ecological divergence and mating signals could lead to reproductive isolation and the formation of new species. Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are potential examples of such dual traits. They form a waxy layer on the cuticle of the insect to maintain water balance and prevent desiccation, while also acting as signaling molecules in mate recognition and chemical communication. Because the synthesis of these hydrocarbons in insect oenocytes occurs through a common biochemical pathway, natural or sexual selection on one role may affect the other. In this review, we explore how ecological divergence in insect CHCs can lead to divergence in mating signals and reproductive isolation. We suggest that the evolution of insect CHCs may be ripe models for understanding ecological speciation.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Sean B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D000818:Animals; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways; D012634:Bodily Secretions / Q000502:physiology; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007301:Insect Hormones; D012724:Sex Attractants
keywords: chemical communication; cuticular hydrocarbons; desiccation; ecological adaptation; mating success; speciation