Composition and Electrophysiological Activity of Constituents Identified in Male Wing Gland Secretion of the Bumblebee Parasite <i>Aphomia sociella</i>

6,10,14-Trimethylpentadecan-2-one (Hexahydrofarnesyl acetone; HHA) previously has been found to be a major component in tibial fragrances of male orchid bees, Euglossa spp. HHA is a chiral molecule with four possible stereoisomers, (6R, 10R)-, (6R, 10S)-, (6S, 10R)-, and (6S, 10S)-6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-one. In the present study, we characterized HHA extracted from Euglossa as the pure enantiomer (6R, 10R)-6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-one. During bioassays in Mexico and Panama, the synthetic RR-isomer attracted males of six species of orchid bees, including three that were known to contain HHA in their tibial fragrances. Possible sources of HHA for wild bees are flowers of euglossophilous orchids and aroids. With a molecular weight of 268, HHA is the largest natural molecule known to attract male orchid bees in pure form. Its attractiveness to males suggests that low-volatility compounds have a function in male signals, e.g., serve as a "base note" in complex odor bouquets.

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“…All analytical data were in accordance with those previously reported (Suga et al, 1989;Nam et al, 2007;Zhao et al, 2007;Kalinová et al, 2009).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 87%

(6R, 10R)-6,10,14-Trimethylpentadecan-2-one, a Dominant and Behaviorally Active Component in Male Orchid Bee Fragrances

et al. 2010

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“…(R)-(-)-mellein has previously been isolated from diverse fungi (e.g., refs. 31 and 32), plants (33), and insects (34,35). It has been shown to have antibacterial activity against standard and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (36).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Larvae of the parasitoid wasp Ampulex compressa sanitize their host, the American cockroach, with a blend of antimicrobials

Herzner

Schlecht

Dollhofer

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Food resources contaminated with spoilage or pathogenic microorganisms pose severe problems to all higher organisms. Here, we describe a food-hygienic strategy of the emerald cockroach wasp Ampulex compressa . The wasp larvae develop on and inside the American cockroach Periplaneta americana , a host that can harbor various putrefactive microbes, as well as human and insect pathogens. From P. americana , we isolated the Gram-negative bacterium Serratia marcescens , which is a potent entomopathogen that can rapidly kill insect larvae. It is also known as a food contaminant and as an opportunistic human pathogen. Using behavioral observations and chemical analyses, we demonstrated that A. compressa larvae impregnate their cockroach hosts from inside with large amounts of an oral secretion containing a blend of γ-lactones and isocoumarins with ( R )-(-)-mellein [( R )-(-)-3,4-diydro-8-hydroxy-3-methylisocoumarin] and micromolide [(4 R ,9 Z )-octadec-9-en-4-olide] as dominant components. We fractionated hexane extracts of the secretion and investigated the antimicrobial properties of the fraction containing the lactones and isocoumarins, as well as of synthetic ( R )-(-)-mellein and micromolide, against S. marcescens and a Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus hyicus , in broth microdilution assays. The test fraction inhibited growth of both tested bacteria. The activity of the fraction against S. marcescens was explained by ( R )-(-)-mellein alone, and the activity against S. hyicus was explained by the combined action of ( R )-(-)-mellein and micromolide. Our data suggest that the specific combination of antimicrobials in the larval secretion provides an effective frontline defense against the unpredictable spectrum of microbes that A. compressa larvae may encounter during their development inside their cockroach hosts.

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“…In contrast to A. grisella, using sound for inviting females and pheromones for close range communication, males of Galleria mellonella and Aphomia sociella have exchanged the use of the two sensory stimuli -attracting mates by means of sex pheromones (Kalinová et al, 2009;Lebedeva et al, 2002), while producing ultrasound for close-range courtship (Finn and Payne, 1977;Spangler, 1984;Spangler et al, 1988). Female arrival initiates male courtship characterized by running around the female, wing beating, and a specific type of ultrasound production.…”

Section: The Role Of Sound In the Unusualmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simple ears – flexible behavior: Information processing in the moth auditory pathway

et al. 2015

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Lepidoptera evolved tympanic ears in response to echolocating bats. Comparative studies have shown that moth ears evolved many times independently from chordotonal organs. With only 1 to 4 receptor cells, they are one of the simplest hearing organs. The small number of receptors does not imply simplicity, neither in behavior nor in the neural circuit. Behaviorally, the response to ultrasound is far from being a simple reflex. Moths' escape behavior is modulated by a variety of cues, especially pheromones, which can alter the auditory response. Neurally the receptor cell(s) diverges onto many interneurons, enabling parallel processing and feature extraction. Ascending interneurons and sound-sensitive brain neurons innervate a neuropil in the ventrolateral protocerebrum. Further, recent electrophysiological data provides the first glimpses into how the acoustic response is modulated as well as how ultrasound influences the other senses. So far, the auditory pathway has been studied in noctuids.The findings agree well with common computational principles found in other insects. However, moth ears also show unique mechanical and neural adaptation. Here, we first describe the variety of moths' auditory behavior, especially the co-option of ultrasonic signals for intraspecific communication. Second, we describe the current knowledge of the neural pathway gained from noctuid moths. Finally, we argue that Galleriinae which show negative and positive phonotaxis, are an interesting model species for future electrophysiological studies of the auditory pathway and multimodal sensory integration, and so are ideally suited for the study of the evolution of behavioral mechanisms given a few receptors [Current Zoology 61 (2): 292-302, 2015].

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Composition and Electrophysiological Activity of Constituents Identified in Male Wing Gland Secretion of the Bumblebee Parasite Aphomia sociella

Cited by 32 publications

References 32 publications

(6R, 10R)-6,10,14-Trimethylpentadecan-2-one, a Dominant and Behaviorally Active Component in Male Orchid Bee Fragrances

(6R, 10R)-6,10,14-Trimethylpentadecan-2-one, a Dominant and Behaviorally Active Component in Male Orchid Bee Fragrances

Larvae of the parasitoid wasp Ampulex compressa sanitize their host, the American cockroach, with a blend of antimicrobials

Simple ears – flexible behavior: Information processing in the moth auditory pathway

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