Aggregation pheromone system of nymphal gregarious desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskal)

• Published in: Journal of chemical ecology Vol. 22; no. 12; pp. 2273 - 2281
• Main Authors: Torto, B. (International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya.), Njagi, P.G.N, Hassanali, A, Amiani, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01-12-1996
• Subjects: ACIDE ORGANIQUE; ACIDOS ORGANICOS; ALDEHIDOS; ALDEHYDE; ALDEHYDES; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; BIOASSAYS; Biological and medical sciences; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; COMPOSE PHENOLIQUE; COMPOSE VOLATIL; COMPOSICION QUIMICA; COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE; COMPUESTO VOLATIL; COMPUESTOS FENOLICOS; CONTROL DE INSECTOS; DOSAGE; DOSIFICACION; ENSAYO BIOLOGICO; FEROMONAS; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GUAIACOL; INSECT CONTROL; LUTTE ANTIINSECTE; ORGANIC ACIDS; PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS; PHEROMONE; PHEROMONES; Protozoa. Invertebrata; RESPONSES; SCHISTOCERCA GREGARIA; TEST BIOLOGIQUE; VOLATILE COMPOUNDS; Insecta; Orthoptera; Hexanoic acid; Octanoic acid; Acrididae; Guaiacol; Phenol; Pest; Arthropoda; Acridoidea; Nymph; Schistocerca gregaria; Chemical composition; Aggregation pheromone; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0098-0331; 1573-1561
• DOI: 10.1007/bf02029546

Hexanal, octanal, nonanal, decanal, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, and decanoic acid were identified in the volatile emissions from fifth instars of Schistocerca gregaria by coupled gas chromatography-electroantennography (GC-EAD) detection and coupled GC-mass spectometry (MS). In laboratory assays, synthetic blends of the eight compounds, with acids and aldehydes tested separately, evoked strong aggregation responses from fifth instars, similar to responses evoked by a crude volatile extract of the nymphs. A nymphal fecal volatile phenolic blend of guaiacol and phenol, which we have previously shown to evoke an aggregative response from different stages of the insect, significantly synergized the activity of the blend of eight compounds, suggesting mutually augmentative roles for nymphal and fecal volatiles in evoking aggregation. These results indicate that the aggregation behavior of gregarious second to fifth instars is modulated by three sets of pheromonal compounds: aldehydes and acids emitted by the nymphs themselves and phenols associated with their feces