| Title: | Behavioral and electrophysiological responses of Triatoma brasiliensis males to volatiles produced in the metasternal glands of females |
| Author(s): | Vitta AC; Bohman B; Unelius CR; Lorenzo MG; |
| Address: | "Laboratorio de Triatomineos e Epidemiologia da Doenca de Chagas, Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou/FIOCRUZ, 30.190-002, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10886-009-9709-2 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1573-1561 (Electronic) 0098-0331 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "In many insects, mate finding is mediated by volatile sex pheromones, but evidence for this phenomenon in triatomines (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) is still fragmentary. Recently, it was shown that metasternal glands (MGs) are involved in producing signals related to the sexual communication of Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius prolixus. Based on this, we tested whether MG volatiles could be involved in the sexual communication of Triatoma brasiliensis. Odor-mediated orientation responses were studied by using a T-tube olfactometer. These tests showed that males exhibit positive anemotaxis when confronted with adult odor-laden air currents. Moreover, females that had their metasternal glands occluded did not elicit significant orientation by males. Compounds produced by the MGs of T. brasiliensis females were identified by means of SPME, GC-FID, and GC-MS, with achiral and chiral columns. All substances identified were ketones and alcohols, and similar compound profiles were found in the secretions produced by both sexes. The most abundant compounds identified were 3-pentanone, followed by (4R)-methyl-1-heptanol, 3-pentanol, and (2S)-methyl-1-butanol. In addition, GC-EAD recordings showed that the antennae of males responded to several of the main components of female MG secretions. Our results showed that compounds produced by the MGs of T. brasiliensis females are involved in the sexual communication of this species" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Behavior, Animal/*drug effects Chromatography, Gas Electrophysiological Phenomena/*drug effects Endocrine Glands/*metabolism Female Male Odorants/analysis Orientation/drug effects Sex Attractants/analysis/chemistry/*metabolism/*pharmacology Triato;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineVitta, Ana C R Bohman, Bjorn Unelius, C Rikard Lorenzo, Marcelo G eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2009/11/11 J Chem Ecol. 2009 Oct; 35(10):1212-21. doi: 10.1007/s10886-009-9709-2. Epub 2009 Nov 10" |
