Aggregation pheromone system of adult gregarious desert locust schistocerca gregaria (forskal)

Abstract

Six electrophysiologically active aromatic compounds, viz., anisole, benzaldehyde, veratrole, guaiacol, phenylacetonitrile, and phenol, were identified in the volatiles of older-adult male desert locust. Young adults and females of all age groups produced none or only trace quantities of these compounds. Comparison of the aggregation responses of young and older adults to the crude, older-adult, volatile extract and different synthetic blends of the six compounds showed that the aggregation pheromone system of the adult gregarious locust consists of phenylacetonitrile, guaiacol, phenol, and benzaldehyde. Like the crude volatile extract of older males, neither the synthetic blend of the six compounds nor the adult pheromone blend evoked any significant aggregation responses from nymphs. These results confirm our previous report of sexual differentiation in the production of adult aggregation pheromone in the desert locust and of the evidence of two distinct aggregation pheromone systems in the two stages of the insect.

Mass spectral determination of phenylacetonitrile (PAN) levels in body tissues of adult desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria

“…The increase in the amount of PAN from tissues with age correlated well with the earlier findings that showed increased headspace volatile amounts with age (Mahamat et al, 1993;Ferenz et al, 1994;Torto et al, 1994;Seidelmann et al, 2000). However, PAN was present in the body parts of both males and females although tissues from males contained 20-fold more PAN compared with the females.…”

“…There was evidence of arrestment (Torto et al, 1994) of individuals closer to a PAN source at low relative doses but repellent characteristics (Seidelmann and Ferenz, 2002) at higher doses. It is possible that, accumulating high concentrations of PAN could be toxic to the locusts hence it appears the locusts have developed a mechanism to disperse it rapidly from the body tissues.…”

“…Phenylacetonitrile (PAN) was identified as the principal component of the adult aggregation pheromone of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera:Acrididae) in the 1990s (Torto et 1994). Subsequent studies have demonstrated the multiple behavioural and reproductive functions for the pheromone in this notorious agricultural pest (Ferenz, 1990;Loher, 1990;Byer, 1991;Seidelmann et al, 2000;Ferenz and Seidelmann, 2003;Rono et al, 2008;Bashir and Hassanali, 2010).…”

“…Subsequent studies have demonstrated the multiple behavioural and reproductive functions for the pheromone in this notorious agricultural pest (Ferenz, 1990;Loher, 1990;Byer, 1991;Seidelmann et al, 2000;Ferenz and Seidelmann, 2003;Rono et al, 2008;Bashir and Hassanali, 2010). The major pheromone component of the gregarious adult males has been shown to be involved in cohesive behaviour of the desert locusts at lower relative concentrations (Torto et al, 1994) and as male-male homosexual repellent at higher relative concentrations (Seidelmann and Ferenz, 2002;Siedelmann et al 2005;Rono et al, 2008).…”

Production and Characterization of Porous Kaolinite Modified Pellets for Slow Release Pheromone.

“…It is widely used in flavors such as almond and cherry in various fragrances for soaps and toiletries, in the pharmaceutical production, aromatic alcohols, photographic chemicals and others (9). In the context of using by its aromatic property, Torto et al (10) reported the application of benzaldehyde and five others aromatic compounds as aggregation pheromone system to young and older adult gregarious desert locust Schistocerca gragaria. Leal et al (11) reported the application of benzaldehyde as alarm pheromone to the acarid mite Tyrophagus perniciosus.…”