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J Insect Physiol

Title:		Soldier caste influences on candidate primer pheromone levels and juvenile hormone-dependent caste differentiation in workers of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes
Author(s):		Tarver MR; Schmelz EA; Scharf ME;
Address:		"Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. matt.tarver@ars.usda.gov"
Journal Title:		J Insect Physiol
Year:		2011
Volume:		20110226
Issue:		6
Page Number:		771 - 777
DOI:		10.1016/j.jinsphys.2011.02.015
ISSN/ISBN:		1879-1611 (Electronic) 0022-1910 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Caste systems and the division of labor they make possible are common underlying features of all social insects. Multiple extrinsic factors have been shown to impact caste composition in social insect colonies. Primer pheromones are one type of extrinsic caste-regulatory factor; they are chemical signaling molecules produced by certain colony members to impact developmental physiology of recipient nestmates. However, only limited evidence exists regarding primer pheromones and their actions in eusocial termites. In previous research we identified two soldier-produced terpenes, gamma-cadinene (CAD) and gamma-cadinenal (ALD), as candidate primer pheromones of the lower termite Reticulitermes flavipes. In the present study we tested hypotheses related to CAD and ALD action in recipient individuals. We examined the influences of terminally developed soldier termites on (1) CAD and ALD levels and (2) caste differentiation in developmentally totipotent workers. Our findings show CAD and ALD (respectively) are caste stimulatory and inhibitory components of chemical blends present in soldier heads, ALD levels increase significantly (10.9x) in workers only in the presence of soldiers, and soldiers can reduce developmental-hormone response thresholds of workers, presumably via ALD action. These findings provide novel evidence supporting that CAD and ALD are authentic caste-regulatory primer pheromones in Reticulitermes"
Keywords:		*Animal Communication Animals Female Isoptera/chemistry/*growth & development/*physiology Juvenile Hormones/analysis/*metabolism Male Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes Sesquiterpenes/analysis/*metabolism Social Behavior;
Notes:		"MedlineTarver, Matthew R Schmelz, Eric A Scharf, Michael E eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2011/03/02 J Insect Physiol. 2011 Jun; 57(6):771-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2011.02.015. Epub 2011 Feb 26"