Aggregation pheromone activity of the female sex pheromone, beta-acaridial, in Caloglyphus polyphyllae (Acari: Acaridae)

• Published in: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry Vol. 65; no. 8; pp. 1724 - 1728
• Main Authors: Shimizu, N. (Kyoto Univ. (Japan)), Mori, N, Kuwahara, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry 01.01.2001; Japan Society for Bioscience Biotechnology and Agrochemistry
• Subjects: Acari - chemistry; ACARIDAE; acaridial; aggregation pheromone; AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR; Aldehydes - chemical synthesis; Aldehydes - pharmacology; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; ANTIFUNGAL PROPERTIES; Autoecology; b-Acaridial; Biological and medical sciences; Caloglyphus polyphyllae; Chromatography, Gas; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; FEMALES; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HABITATS; Male; mite; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Sex Attractants - chemical synthesis; Sex Attractants - pharmacology; sex pheromone; SEX PHEROMONES; Sexual Behavior, Animal - drug effects; β-acaridial; Acaridae; Acariformes; Arachnida; Sex pheromone; Chemical analysis; Acari; Arthropoda; Acaridida; Female; Aggregation pheromone; Invertebrata; Semiochemicals
• ISSN: 0916-8451; 1347-6947
• DOI: 10.1271/bbb.65.1724

Caloglyphus (= Sancasania) polyphyllae discharges from a pair of opisthonotal glands a characteristic set of volatiles, i.e. three monoterpenes and seven hydrocarbons. Among them, beta-acaridial, which is known as the female sex pheromone of the species and has antifungal activity, was newly identified as the aggregation pheromone for un feeding and unmating mites. Feeding mites, however, exhibited sexually aroused behavior instead of the tendency to cluster when exposed to beta-acaridial. This is the first example of the compound demonstrating two pheromone functions depending upon the circumstances faced by the mites.