Tergal Gland Secretion of the Rove Beetle Aleochara pseudochrysorrhoa (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae): Chemical Composition and Biological Roles

Abstract

Aleochara pseudochrysorrhoa has a glandular complex known as the tergal gland. Generally, the tergal gland secretion (TGS) has been described to have defensive function, but some reports point to a possible secondary function of this complex. For example, the TGS of the related species A. curtula has been demonstrated to possess an important role in intraspecies communication. In this work, we describe the chemical composition of the TGS of A. pseudochrysorrhoa males and females. Eleven compounds were identified based on GC/MS and GC-FT-IR analyses, retention indexes and derivatization products. Furthermore, a brief study regarding the biological function of the TGS in mating behavior is provided, in which the stimulation of male grasping response reaction by female TGS proved to be dependent on concentration.

Risk Odors Deriving from Predator Abdominal Gland Secretions Mediate Non-Consumptive Effects on Prey

“…The mass range was 30-300 m/z. we identified the chemical identifications by comparison of fragmentation patterns or referring to the MAINLIB and REPLIB standard databases (similarity > 80%) and published papers Metzler 1982,1987;Peschke 1983;Da Silva et al 2020).…”

“…2; Table 2). Most importantly, they were found to have biological functions in conspecific or interspecific communication Metzler 1982, 1987;Peschke 1983;Da Silva et al 2020). Although octadecane and nonadecane have higher relative abundances, there is no previous study reporting their function in any aspect of rove beetle biology.…”

“…Through GC-MS and identification based on fragmentation patterns, or MAINLIB and REPLIB standard databases, or published papers Metzler 1982, 1987;Peschke 1983;Da Silva et al 2020), we found that the chemical composition of female and male AGS extracts Table 1 The volume or amount of chemicals required for preparation of emulsions resembling female or male rove beetle abdominal gland secretion (AGS) a n-Eicosane and n-heneicosane are solid, we used n-tridecane (T) as the solvent to dissolve them before mixing with distilled water b A mixture emulsion contain n-undecane (U), n-tridecane (T), n-pentadecane (P), n-hexadecane (Hex), n-eicosane (E) and n-heneicosane (Hen) was similar (PERMANOVA, F 1, 5 = 8.86, p = 0.097; Fig. 2a, b).…”

“…Abdominal gland secretion has various biological functions in rove beetles. For example, it acts as a defensive compound or as a pheromone, or it is used in chemical mimicry (Peschke and Metzler 1982;Jefson et al 1983;Peschke 1983Peschke , 1986Da Silva et al 2020). Signals serving as intraspecific communication can also serve as interspecific cues (Stökl and Steiger 2017).…”

“…We noticed that rove beetles use to bend their abdomen when encountered with conspecifics or a predator. This behavior can either serve to release abdominal gland secretion to repel a predator or to emit sex pheromones (Jefson et al 1983;Metzler 1982, 1987;Peschke 1983Peschke , 1986Da Silva et al 2020). We thus assumed, since the abdominal gland secretion could be sensed by its predator, it could also be sensed by its prey.…”