| Title: | Does the stereochemistry of methylated cuticular hydrocarbons contribute to mate recognition in the egg parasitoid wasp Ooencyrtus kuvanae? |
| Author(s): | Ablard K; Gries R; Khaskin G; Schaefer PW; Gries G; |
| Address: | "Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, Canada" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10886-012-0189-4 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1573-1561 (Electronic) 0098-0331 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Close-range sexual communication of the egg parasitoid wasp Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) takes place on host gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), egg masses. We tested the hypothesis that mate recognition in O. kuvanae is mediated, in part, by low-volatility cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) pheromone components. Gas chromatographic and GC-mass spectrometric analyses of body surface extracts of male and female wasps revealed no sex-specific components, but 5-methylheptacosane (5-me-27Hy) and 5,17-dimethylheptacosane (5,17-dime-27Hy) were consistently more abundant in extracts of males. The ratio of 5-me-27Hy and 5,17-dime-27Hy was similar in extracts of males and females, and quantitative differences alone seemed insufficient to impart sex-specific CHC profiles. Therefore, we further hypothesized that the absolute configuration of 5-me-27Hy and 5,17-dime-27Hy contributes to mate recognition or attraction. As the stereoisomers of 5-me-27Hy and 5,17-dime-27Hy cannot currently be separated chromatographically, we could not determine the stereochemistry of the insect-produced components. Instead, we synthesized all stereoisomers and bioassayed synthetic blends in laboratory experiments. Of eight 2-component blends, each blend containing one of the two enantiomers of 5-me-27Hy and one of the four stereoisomers of 5,17-dime-27Hy, the blend of (5S)-methylheptacosane and (5R,17S)-dimethylheptacosane attracted males, whereas the blend of (5R)-methylheptacosane and (5R,17R)-dimethylheptacosane repelled males. Apparent recognition of both pheromone components and pheromone antagonists by males supports the hypothesis that the stereochemistry of 5-me-27Hy and 5,17-dime-27Hy, and possibly other methylated CHCs, may differ between male and female O. kuvanae, and that these differences may serve in mate attraction and recognition" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Arthropod Antennae/drug effects Female Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Hydrocarbons/chemical synthesis/chemistry/metabolism Male Pennsylvania Sex Attractants/chemical synthesis/*chemistry/metabolism Sexual Behavior, Animal/*drug effects Stere;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineAblard, Kelly Gries, Regine Khaskin, Grigori Schaefer, Paul W Gries, Gerhard eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2012/09/26 J Chem Ecol. 2012 Oct; 38(10):1306-17. doi: 10.1007/s10886-012-0189-4. Epub 2012 Sep 25" |
