« Previous AbstractQuantity matters: male sex pheromone signals mate quality in the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis    Next AbstractAn oral male courtship pheromone terminates the response of Nasonia vitripennis females to the male-produced sex attractant »

J Chem Ecol

Title:		Pheromone communication in Nasonia vitripennis: abdominal sex attractant mediates site fidelity of releasing males
Author(s):		Ruther J; Thal K; Steiner S;
Address:		"Institute of Zoology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. joachim.ruther@biologie.uni-regensburg.de"
Journal Title:		J Chem Ecol
Year:		2011
Volume:		20101222
Issue:		2
Page Number:		161 - 165
DOI:		10.1007/s10886-010-9898-8
ISSN/ISBN:		1573-1561 (Electronic) 0098-0331 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Males of the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) use a substrate-borne sex pheromone to attract virgin females. The pheromone is synthesized in the rectal vesicle and deposited via the anus by dabbing movements of the abdominal tip. The chemicals attracting the females are composed of a mixture (4R,5R- and (4R,5 S)-5-hydroxy-4-decanolides (HDL) being synergized by the trace component 4-methylquinazoline (4-MeQ) which is not attractive for females when offered alone. Here we show that male pheromone deposits are not only attractive to virgin females but also for the releasing males themselves. In an olfactometer bioassay, males were strongly attracted by their own pheromone markings but were unable to discriminate between their own markings and those deposited by other males. Polar fractions of pheromone gland extracts containing the HDLs and 4-MeQ were also highly attractive for males. Bioassays using synthetic pheromones in natural doses revealed that combinations of HDL/4-MeQ and 4-MeQ alone attracted males whereas the HDLs alone were behaviorally inactive. Furthermore, males did not discriminate between HDL/4-MeQ and 4-MeQ alone. We conclude that the trace component 4-MeQ mediates site fidelity of N. vitripennis males at sites previously marked with the abdominal sex pheromone. The use of 4-MeQ to stay at and to return to scent-marked patches rather than marking new ones might be a strategy to economize semiochemical use in N. vitripennis males"
Keywords:		"*Abdomen *Animal Communication Animals Biological Assay Female Hymenoptera/*drug effects/*metabolism Male Quinazolines/chemistry/*pharmacology Sex Attractants/chemistry/*metabolism/*pharmacology Sexual Behavior, Animal/drug effects/physiology;"
Notes:		"MedlineRuther, Joachim Thal, Kathleen Steiner, Sven eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2010/12/25 J Chem Ecol. 2011 Feb; 37(2):161-5. doi: 10.1007/s10886-010-9898-8. Epub 2010 Dec 22"