| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2840758 | Journal of Insect Physiology | 2011 | 7 Pages |
The trail-following pheromone and sex pheromones were investigated in the Indomalayan termite Hodotermopsis sjoestedti belonging to the new family Archotermopsidae.Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) after solid phase microextraction (SPME) of the sternal gland secretion of pseudergates and trail-following bioassays demonstrated that the trail-following pheromone of H. sjoestedti was syn-4,6-dimethylundecan-1-ol, a new chemical structure for termite pheromones. GC–MS after SPME of the sternal gland secretion of alates also allowed the identification of sex-specific compounds. In female alates, the major sex-specific compound was identified as (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal, a compound previously identified as the female sex pheromone of the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. In male alates, the major sex-specific compound was identified as syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal, a homolog of syn-4,6-dimethyldodecanal, which has previously been confirmed as the male sex pheromone of Z. nevadensis. The presence of sex-specific compounds in alates of H. sjoestedti strongly suggests for this termite the presence of sex-specific pairing pheromones which were only known until now in Z. nevadensis. Our results showed therefore a close chemical relationship between the pheromones of the taxa Hodotermopsis and Zootermopsis and, in contrast, a clear difference with the taxa Stolotermes and Porotermes, which is in total agreement with the recent creation of the families Archotermopsidae and Stolotermitidae as a substitute for the former family Termopsidae.
Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► We identified releaser pheromones of the termite Hodotermopsis sjoetedti. ► Pseudergates secrete the trail-following pheromone syn-4,6-dimethylundecan-1-ol. ► The female alates secrete the female sex pheromone (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal. ► The male alates secrete the male sex pheromone syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal. ► The pheromones of Hodotermopsis and Zootermopis are closely related.
