Pokorny, Tamara and Ruther, Joachim (2023) Cuticular Hydrocarbon Polymorphism in a Parasitoid Wasp. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY, 49 (1-2). pp. 36-45. ISSN 0098-0331, 1573-1561
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are major constituents of the cuticular lipid layer of insects. They serve not only as a barrier to desiccation, but often additionally mediate communication at close range. The compositions of the CHC profiles, i.e., the specific compounds and their relative amounts, usually differ between species. Additional intraspecific variability can be found between different populations, between colonies and castes of social insects, and between the sexes. Thus, such groups can often be distinguished based on distinctive compounds and/or specific compound ratios. The CHC profile may further be influenced by biotic and abiotic factors, which therefore can impact, e.g., nestmate recognition or mate choice. However, consistent intrasexual variation seems to be rare. Here, we investigated a case of intrasexual CHC variability within a single population of a parasitoid wasp. While wasps of both sexes produced the same set of compounds, the relative amounts of specific compound classes revealed the presence of intrasexual chemical phenotypes. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of three distinct female CHC profile patterns within a population of a solitary insect that uses CHCs for mate recognition. Additionally, male CHC profiles, while overall very similar, could be separated into two chemotypes by multivariate analysis. The study of species exhibiting such intraspecific and intrasexual CHC variation will advance our understanding of the effects of CHC variability on both, desiccation resistance and intraspecific communication.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | TACHINAEPHAGUS-ZEALANDICUS HYMENOPTERA; DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER; POSTPHARYNGEAL GLAND; ENCYRTIDAE; EVOLUTION; BASES; ANT; Cuticular lipids; variability; chemotype; mate recognition; Tachinaephagus zealandicus |
| Subjects: | 500 Science > 590 Zoological sciences |
| Divisions: | Biology, Preclinical Medicine > Institut für Zoologie > Chemische Ökologie (Prof. Dr. Joachim Ruther) |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Feb 2024 10:04 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Feb 2024 10:04 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/58910 |
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