scholarly journals An airborne sex pheromone in snakes

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Shine ◽  
R. T. Mason
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Direct Contact ◽  
Sex Pheromones ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Vomeronasal System ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis ◽  
Tongue Flicking

Most reptile sex pheromones so far described are lipid molecules too large to diffuse through the air; instead, they are detected via direct contact (tongue-flicking) with another animal's body or substrate-deposited trails, using the vomeronasal system. The only non-lipid pheromone reported in snakes involves courtship termination in red-sided gartersnakes ( Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis ): males that encounter copulatory fluids cease courtship, presumably reflecting the futility of courting an already-mating female. Our field experiments at a communal den in Manitoba show that this pheromone can work via olfaction: courtship is terminated by exposure to airborne scents from mating conspecifics, and does not require direct contact (tongue-flicking). Hence, the sexual behaviour of reptiles can be affected by airborne as well as substrate-bound pheromones.

scholarly journals Beyond species recognition: somatic state affects long-distance sex pheromone communication

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1812) ◽  
pp. 20150832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Chemnitz ◽  
Petra C. Jentschke ◽  
Manfred Ayasse ◽  
Sandra Steiger
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Sex Pheromones ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Species Recognition ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Central Processing ◽  
Pheromone Emission ◽  
Somatic State

Long-range sex pheromones have been subjected to substantial research with a particular focus on their biosynthesis, peripheral perception, central processing and the resulting orientation behaviour of perceivers. Fundamental to the research on sex attractants was the assumption that they primarily coordinate species recognition. However, especially when they are produced by the less limiting sex (usually males), the evolution of heightened condition dependence might be expected and long-range sex pheromones might, therefore, also inform about a signaller's quality. Here we provide, to our knowledge, the first comprehensive study of the role of a male's long-range pheromone in mate choice that combines chemical analyses, video observations and field experiments with a multifactorial manipulation of males' condition. We show that the emission of the long-distance sex pheromone of the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides is highly condition-dependent and reliably reflects nutritional state, age, body size and parasite load—key components of an individual's somatic state. Both, the quantity and ratio of the pheromone components were affected but the time invested in pheromone emission was largely unaffected by a male's condition. Moreover, the variation in pheromone emission caused by the variation in condition had a strong effect on the attractiveness of males in the field, with males in better nutritional condition, of older age, larger body size and bearing less parasites being more attractive. That a single pheromone is influenced by so many aspects of the somatic state and causes such variation in a male's attractiveness under field conditions was hitherto unknown and highlights the need to integrate indicator models of sexual selection into pheromone research.

SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF THE MEDITERRANEAN FLOUR MOTH, ANAGASTA KÜHNIELLA: SOME INFLUENCES OF AGE, PHOTOPERIOD, AND LIGHT INTENSITY

1970 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 534-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. M. Traynier
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Light Intensity ◽  
Organic Solvents ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Light Period ◽  
Unmated Female ◽  
Diel Cycles ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Old Females ◽  
Mediterranean Flour Moth

AbstractUnmated female A. kühniella (Zell.) emitted a sex pheromone at the beginning of the light period of a 24 hour cycle of light and dark periods. There were no differences apparent in the duration of the calling posture by females in light of 1, 40, or 200 lux. A sex pheromone was extracted from the abdominal tips of unmated females of various ages with organic solvents, 3-day-old females gave the most potent extracts. Extracts of equal potence were obtained from females at different times during the diel cycles of photoperiod. The response of males to the extract was maximal at dawn, increased with age for 5 days, and was greater in light of 1 lux intensity than of 200 lux. Both sexes showed an anticipation of the beginning of the light period in their sexual behaviour, but if the timing of the cycle of photoperiod was changed the behaviour of both sexes became synchronised to the new cycle on its second or third occurrence.

SEX PHEROMONE COMPONENT OF THE WESTERN BLACKHEADED BUDWORM, ACLERIS GLOVERANA WALSINGHAM (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

1996 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 1135-1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.G. Gray ◽  
R.F. Shepherd ◽  
G. Gries ◽  
R. Gries
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Pheromone Component ◽  
Pheromone Gland ◽  
Selected Ion Monitoring ◽  
Electroantennographic Detection ◽  
Trap Catches

Abstract(E)-11,13-Tetradecadienal (E11,13-14:Ald) is the major component of the sex pheromone of the western blackheaded budworm (WBB), Acleris gloverana Walsingham. The compound was identified in extracts of the female’s pheromone gland by coupled gas chromatographic - electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and coupled GC - mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode. In field experiments, E11,13-14:Ald by itself was attractive, but addition of (Z)-11,13-tetradecadienal doubled trap catches of male WBB. (E)-11,13-Tetradecadienol or (E)-11,13-tetradecadienyl acetate in binary or ternary combination with E11,13-14:Ald did not enhance attractiveness of the bait. In comparative assessments of five different trap designs, Uni-traps appeared to be the most suitable for use in pheromone-based monitoring of populations of WBB.

Sex pheromones of Callosobruchus subinnotatus and C. maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae): congeneric responses and role of air movement

2000 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.N. Mbata ◽  
S. Shu ◽  
S.B. Ramaswamy
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Sex Pheromones ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Air Movement ◽  
Sex Pheromone Components ◽  
Pheromone Components ◽  
Callosobruchus Subinnotatus

Females of Callosobruchus spp. are known to produce sex pheromones that attract males. These sex pheromones cannot be adopted for use in pest management without first investigating the responses of the males in the windless conditions of storage environments. Consequently, behavioural bioassays of Callosobruchus subinnotatus Pic males were conducted in an olfactometer in the absence of air-flow. Under these conditions males were found to be able to follow odour trails to the source. However, the latency period was longer in diffusional bioassays than for insects in a Y-tube olfactometer that provided directional wind cues. The highest percentage of males reached the pheromone source when components of the pheromones, (E)-3-methyl-2-heptenoic acid (E32A) and (Z)-3-methyl-2-heptenoic acid (Z32A), were formulated in a 50:50 or 25:75 ratio. Males of C. maculatus (Fabricius) responded to sex pheromone of C. subinnotatus, but males of C. subinnotatus did not respond to that of C. maculatus. The two sex pheromone components of C. subinnotatus are also constituents of C. maculatus sex pheromone. These two components may be potentially useful in monitoring the populations of both species in stored beans. It is postulated that (Z)-3-methyl-3-heptenoic acid (Z33A), the major component of the sex pheromone of C. maculatus, must have acted as an antagonist inhibiting response of C. subinnotatus to the sex pheromone of C. maculatus.

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