Abstract
After pharmacophagy of methyl eugenol (ME), males of Bactrocera carambolae (Diptera: Tephritidae) produced (E)-coniferyl alcohol (CF) along with its endogenously synthesized pheromonal compounds. CF was shown to be released into the air by the ME-fed males only during the courtship period at dusk and attracted significantly more males and females than the ME-deprived males in wind tunnel assays. However, earlier onset of sexual attraction and a higher mating success were observed only in the wind tunnel and field cage assays on the third day posttreatment of ME. Field cage observations on the male-to-male interaction indicated that the ME-deprived males did not exhibit aggregation behavior, but that ME feeding promoted aggregation behavior in B. carambolae. Field cage observations revealed that the ME-deprived males were not only attracted to the ME-fed males, but also appeared to feed on their anal secretions. The secretions were subsequently confirmed to contain CF along with endogenously produced pheromonal compounds. Results obtained for B. carambolae were compared to those previously obtained from its sibling species, Bactrocera dorsalis, and are discussed in light of species advancement in fruit fly-plant relationships.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1272-1282 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Chemical Ecology |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Bactrocera carambolae
- Coniferyl alcohol
- Mating competition
- Methyl eugenol
- Volatile emission
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Biochemistry
Cite this
Pharmacophagy of methyl eugenol by males enhances sexual selection of Bactrocera carambolae. / Suk Ling, Wee; Tan, Keng Hong; Nishida, Ritsuo.
In: Journal of Chemical Ecology, Vol. 33, No. 6, 06.2007, p. 1272-1282.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Pharmacophagy of methyl eugenol by males enhances sexual selection of Bactrocera carambolae
AU - Suk Ling, Wee
AU - Tan, Keng Hong
AU - Nishida, Ritsuo
PY - 2007/6
Y1 - 2007/6
N2 - After pharmacophagy of methyl eugenol (ME), males of Bactrocera carambolae (Diptera: Tephritidae) produced (E)-coniferyl alcohol (CF) along with its endogenously synthesized pheromonal compounds. CF was shown to be released into the air by the ME-fed males only during the courtship period at dusk and attracted significantly more males and females than the ME-deprived males in wind tunnel assays. However, earlier onset of sexual attraction and a higher mating success were observed only in the wind tunnel and field cage assays on the third day posttreatment of ME. Field cage observations on the male-to-male interaction indicated that the ME-deprived males did not exhibit aggregation behavior, but that ME feeding promoted aggregation behavior in B. carambolae. Field cage observations revealed that the ME-deprived males were not only attracted to the ME-fed males, but also appeared to feed on their anal secretions. The secretions were subsequently confirmed to contain CF along with endogenously produced pheromonal compounds. Results obtained for B. carambolae were compared to those previously obtained from its sibling species, Bactrocera dorsalis, and are discussed in light of species advancement in fruit fly-plant relationships.
AB - After pharmacophagy of methyl eugenol (ME), males of Bactrocera carambolae (Diptera: Tephritidae) produced (E)-coniferyl alcohol (CF) along with its endogenously synthesized pheromonal compounds. CF was shown to be released into the air by the ME-fed males only during the courtship period at dusk and attracted significantly more males and females than the ME-deprived males in wind tunnel assays. However, earlier onset of sexual attraction and a higher mating success were observed only in the wind tunnel and field cage assays on the third day posttreatment of ME. Field cage observations on the male-to-male interaction indicated that the ME-deprived males did not exhibit aggregation behavior, but that ME feeding promoted aggregation behavior in B. carambolae. Field cage observations revealed that the ME-deprived males were not only attracted to the ME-fed males, but also appeared to feed on their anal secretions. The secretions were subsequently confirmed to contain CF along with endogenously produced pheromonal compounds. Results obtained for B. carambolae were compared to those previously obtained from its sibling species, Bactrocera dorsalis, and are discussed in light of species advancement in fruit fly-plant relationships.
KW - Bactrocera carambolae
KW - Coniferyl alcohol
KW - Mating competition
KW - Methyl eugenol
KW - Volatile emission
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34249735786&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34249735786&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10886-007-9295-0
DO - 10.1007/s10886-007-9295-0
M3 - Article
VL - 33
SP - 1272
EP - 1282
JO - Journal of Chemical Ecology
JF - Journal of Chemical Ecology
SN - 0098-0331
IS - 6
ER -