Male mate recognition via cuticular hydrocarbons facilitates sexual isolation between sympatric leaf beetle sister species.
J Insect Physiol
; 70: 15-21, 2014 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25172230
ABSTRACT
Chemical signals in insects have been documented to play an important role in mate recognition, and divergence in chemical signals can often cause sexual isolation between closely related species or populations within species. We investigated the role of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), short distance chemical signals, in male mate recognition between the two sympatric elm leaf beetles, Pyrrhalta maculicollis and Pyrrhaltaaenescens. Mating experiments demonstrated that strong sexual isolation between the two species was driven by CHCs divergence. Males preferred to mate with conspecific females with intact conspecific CHCs or conspecific CHCs reapplied after removal. Males also preferred heterospecific females that were treated with conspecific CHCs. Chemical analysis showed that the CHC profiles differ significantly between species. In P. maculicollis dimethyl-branched alkanes between C29 and C35 account for the majority of the saturated alkanes while the CHC profile of P. aenescens mostly consisted of monomethyl-branched alkanes between C22 and C29. Additionally, some compounds, such as 12,18-diMeC32, 12,18-diMeC34, are unique to P. maculicollis.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Atrativos Sexuais
/
Besouros
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Preferência de Acasalamento Animal
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Isolamento Reprodutivo
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Hidrocarbonetos
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Insect Physiol
Ano de publicação:
2014
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
China