| Title: | "Evidence of female sex pheromones and characterization of the cuticular lipids of unfed, adult male versus female blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis" |
| Author(s): | Carr AL; Sonenshine DE; Strider JB; Roe RM; |
| Address: | "Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7647, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7647, USA. Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA. Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7647, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7647, USA. Michael_roe@ncsu.edu" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10493-015-0009-y |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1572-9702 (Electronic) 0168-8162 (Print) 0168-8162 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Copulation in Ixodes scapularis involves physical contact between the male and female (on or off the host), male mounting of the female, insertion/maintenance of the male chelicerae in the female genital pore (initiates spermatophore production), and the transfer of the spermatophore by the male into the female genital pore. Bioassays determined that male mounting behavior/chelicerae insertion required direct contact with the female likely requiring non-volatile chemical cues with no evidence of a female volatile sex pheromone to attract males. Unfed virgin adult females and replete mated adult females elicited the highest rates of male chelicerae insertion with part fed virgin adult females exhibiting a much lower response. Whole body surface hexane extracts of unfed virgin adult females and males, separately analyzed by GC-MS, identified a number of novel tick surface associated compounds: fatty alcohols (1-hexadecanol and 1-heptanol), a fatty amide (erucylamid), aromatic hydrocarbons, a short chain alkene (1-heptene), and a carboxylic acid ester (5beta-androstane). These compounds are discussed in terms of their potential role in female-male communication. The two most abundant fatty acid esters found were butyl palmitate and butyl stearate present in ratios that were sex specific. Only 6 n-saturated hydrocarbons were identified in I. scapularis ranging from 10 to 18 carbons" |
| Keywords: | Animals Female Ixodes/*chemistry/physiology Lipids/*analysis Male Sex Attractants/*analysis Blacklegged tick Chemical communication Cuticle Cuticular lipids Ixodes scapularis Lyme disease Pheromones Reproduction Ticks; |
| Notes: | "MedlineCarr, Ann L Sonenshine, Daniel E Strider, John B Jr Roe, R Michael eng R21 AI096268/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ 1R21AI096268/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Netherlands 2016/02/13 Exp Appl Acarol. 2016 Apr; 68(4):519-38. doi: 10.1007/s10493-015-0009-y. Epub 2016 Feb 10" |
