(Z)-7-Hexadecene is an Aggregation-Sex Pheromone Produced by Males of the South American Cerambycid Beetle Susuacanga octoguttata

Author(s)

Silva, Weliton D. ^[1] ; Bento, Jose Mauricio S. ^[1] ; Hanks, Lawrence M. ^[2] ; Millar, Jocelyn G. ^{[3, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Entomol & Acarol, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Illinois, Dept Entomol, Urbana, IL 61801 - USA

^[3] Univ Calif Riverside, Dept Entomol, Riverside, CA 92521 - USA

^[4] Univ Calif Riverside, Dept Chem, Riverside, CA 92521 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Chemical Ecology; v. 44, n. 12, p. 1115-1119, DEC 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

We describe the identification, synthesis, and field bioassays of a novel aggregation-sex pheromone produced by males of Susuacanga octoguttata (Germar), a South American cerambycid beetle. Analyses of extracts of headspace volatiles produced by adult beetles revealed a sex-specific compound emitted by males which was identified as (Z)-7-hexadecene by microchemical and spectroscopic analyses. The synthesized pheromone was attractive to beetles of both sexes in field trials. This unsaturated hydrocarbon motif is unprecedented among cerambycid pheromones identified to date. During field bioassays, we serendipitously discovered that adults of S. octoguttata trapped in two Brazilian biomes differed considerably in elytral markings, although males from both populations produced (Z)-7-hexadecene as an aggregation-sex pheromone. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50871-0 - INCT 2014: National Institute of Science and Technology of Semiochemicals in Agriculture
• Grantee: José Roberto Postali Parra
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants