Sex pheromone in Tetrodontophora bielanesis (Waga, 1842) (Collembola: Onychiuridae): Indirect reproduction mediated by cuticular compounds

SummaryAn olfactory sexual recognition signal was investigated in Tetrodontophora bielanensis (Collembola: Onychiuridae). A preliminary olfactometry experiment showed an unequivocal attraction of males by the odor of females. This led us to conduct male attraction tests using polar and apolar fractions of female cuticular extract. The polar fraction of the extract was shown to contain the component that plays an active role in sexual attraction in this Collembola species. The results of the present study are the first to show a direct relationship between an olfactory signal and sexual attraction in Collembola.