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J Insect Physiol

Title:		Queen-specific volatile in a higher termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis (Isoptera: Termitidae)
Author(s):		Himuro C; Yokoi T; Matsuura K;
Address:		"Graduate School of Environmental Science, Okayama University, 700-8530 Okayama, Japan. chimuro@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp"
Journal Title:		J Insect Physiol
Year:		2011
Volume:		20110421
Issue:		7
Page Number:		962 - 965
DOI:		10.1016/j.jinsphys.2011.04.012
ISSN/ISBN:		1879-1611 (Electronic) 0022-1910 (Linking)
Abstract:		"In social insect colonies, queen-produced pheromones have important functions in social regulation. These substances influence the behavior and physiology of colony members. A queen-produced volatile that inhibits differentiation of new neotenic reproductives was recently identified in the lower termite Reticulitermes speratus. However, there are no known queen-specific volatiles of this type in any other termite species. Here, we report volatile compounds emitted by live queens of the higher termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis. We used headspace gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (HS GC-MS) to analyze volatiles emitted by live primary queens, workers, soldiers, alates, and eggs collected in a Japanese subtropical forest. Among 14 detected compounds, 7 were soldier-specific, 1 was alate-specific, 1 was egg-specific, and 1 was queen-specific. The queen-specific volatile was phenylethanol, which is different than the compound identified in R. speratus. The identification of this queen-specific volatile is the first step in determining its functions in higher termite social regulation. Comparisons of queen pheromone substances regulating caste differentiation among various termite taxa will contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of social systems in termites"
Keywords:		"Animals Biological Evolution Female Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Hierarchy, Social Isoptera/chemistry/*metabolism Japan Pheromones/*analysis/chemistry Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis/chemistry;"
Notes:		"MedlineHimuro, Chihiro Yokoi, Tomoyuki Matsuura, Kenji eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2011/05/05 J Insect Physiol. 2011 Jul; 57(7):962-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2011.04.012. Epub 2011 Apr 21"