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Naturwissenschaften

Title:		Irresistible bouquet of death--how are burying beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae: Nicrophorus) attracted by carcasses
Author(s):		Kalinova B; Podskalska H; Ruzicka J; Hoskovec M;
Address:		"Infochemicals Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry v.v.i., Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10, Prague 6, Czech Republic"
Journal Title:		Naturwissenschaften
Year:		2009
Volume:		20090430
Issue:		8
Page Number:		889 - 899
DOI:		10.1007/s00114-009-0545-6
ISSN/ISBN:		1432-1904 (Electronic) 0028-1042 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Chemical composition of volatiles emitted from fresh mouse carcasses (laboratory mice, Mus musculus) was studied using solid sample injection technique (solid-phase micro-extraction), two-dimensional gas chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometric detection and gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection. Electroantennography (EAG) and laboratory olfactometric behavioural observations were used to study the antennal sensitivity to identified infochemicals and their attractiveness for burying beetles Nicrophorus vespillo and Nicrophorus vespilloides (Silphidae: Nicrophorinae). Chemical analysis showed that immediately after death, emitted volatiles did not differ from those emitted by a living organism. However, in the course of time, sulphur-containing chemicals, specifically methanethiol, methyl thiolacetate, dimethyl sulphide, dimethyl disulphide and dimethyl trisulphide appear. EAG measurements revealed antennal sensitivity to these compounds. Behavioural tests in laboratory olfactometer showed that dimethyl sulphide, dimethyl disulphide and dimethyl trisulphide are highly attractive to both studied species. The data suggest that sulphur-containing chemicals are involved in mediating the fresh carcass attractiveness for N. vespillo and N. vespilloides"
Keywords:		"*Animal Feed Animals Behavior, Animal Chromatography, Gas Coleoptera/*physiology Death Ecosystem Female Larva/physiology Mass Spectrometry Mice Odorants Oviposition Postmortem Changes Sulfides/*analysis;"
Notes:		"MedlineKalinova, B Podskalska, H Ruzicka, J Hoskovec, M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Germany 2009/05/01 Naturwissenschaften. 2009 Aug; 96(8):889-99. doi: 10.1007/s00114-009-0545-6. Epub 2009 Apr 30"