| Title: | The male sex pheromone of the butterfly Bicyclus anynana: towards an evolutionary analysis |
| Author(s): | Nieberding CM; de Vos H; Schneider MV; Lassance JM; Estramil N; Andersson J; Bang J; Hedenstrom E; Lofstedt C; Brakefield PM; |
| Address: | "Evolutionary Biology Group, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. c.m.nieberding@biology.leidenuniv.nl" |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0002751 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "BACKGROUND: Female sex pheromones attracting mating partners over long distances are a major determinant of reproductive isolation and speciation in Lepidoptera. Males can also produce sex pheromones but their study, particularly in butterflies, has received little attention. A detailed comparison of sex pheromones in male butterflies with those of female moths would reveal patterns of conservation versus novelty in the associated behaviours, biosynthetic pathways, compounds, scent-releasing structures and receiving systems. Here we assess whether the African butterfly Bicyclus anynana, for which genetic, genomic, phylogenetic, ecological and ethological tools are available, represents a relevant model to contribute to such comparative studies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using a multidisciplinary approach, we determined the chemical composition of the male sex pheromone (MSP) in the African butterfly B. anynana, and demonstrated its behavioural activity. First, we identified three compounds forming the presumptive MSP, namely (Z)-9-tetradecenol (Z9-14:OH), hexadecanal (16:Ald ) and 6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-ol (6,10,14-trime-15-2-ol), and produced by the male secondary sexual structures, the androconia. Second, we described the male courtship sequence and found that males with artificially reduced amounts of MSP have a reduced mating success in semi-field conditions. Finally, we could restore the mating success of these males by perfuming them with the synthetic MSP. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides one of the first integrative analyses of a MSP in butterflies. The toolkit it has developed will enable the investigation of the type of information about male quality that is conveyed by the MSP in intraspecific communication. Interestingly, the chemical structure of B. anynana MSP is similar to some sex pheromones of female moths making a direct comparison of pheromone biosynthesis between male butterflies and female moths relevant to future research. Such a comparison will in turn contribute to understanding the evolution of sex pheromone production and reception in butterflies" |
| Keywords: | "Animal Communication Animals Butterflies Ecology Evolution, Molecular Female *Gene Expression Regulation Kinetics Male Mating Preference, Animal Models, Biological Sex Attractants/*metabolism Sexual Behavior, Animal Smell Wings, Animal/physiology;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineNieberding, Caroline M de Vos, Helene Schneider, Maria V Lassance, Jean-Marc Estramil, Natalia Andersson, Jimmy Bang, Joakim Hedenstrom, Erik Lofstedt, Christer Brakefield, Paul M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2008/07/24 PLoS One. 2008 Jul 23; 3(7):e2751. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002751" |
