Monoalkenes as contact sex pheromone components of the woodwasp Sirex noctilio

J Chem Ecol. 2009 Oct;35(10):1202-11. doi: 10.1007/s10886-009-9693-6. Epub 2009 Oct 3.

Abstract

A pheromone on the cuticle of females of the woodwasp Sirex noctilio, a recently introduced pest of pines in North America, induces conspecific males to attempt copulation. Dead females washed with hexane did not elicit copulation attempts from males, whereas reapplication of a female hexane body wash onto the cuticle of dead females elicited copulation attempts by 65% of males tested. Analysis of the hexane extract revealed saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons as major components of the female cuticle. Behavior-guided fractionation of the female body wash led to the identification of three components, (Z)-7-heptacosene, (Z)-7-nonacosene, and (Z)-9-nonacosene, of the sex pheromone of S. noctilio that elicited copulatory responses from males.

MeSH terms

  • Alkenes / chemistry
  • Alkenes / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Biological Assay
  • Copulation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Hymenoptera / chemistry*
  • Hymenoptera / drug effects*
  • Hymenoptera / physiology
  • Lipids / chemistry
  • Lipids / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Sex Attractants / chemistry
  • Sex Attractants / pharmacology*
  • Skin / chemistry

Substances

  • Alkenes
  • Lipids
  • Sex Attractants