Journal of Chemical Ecology (2012) 38, 36-41

Gorou Maruno, Naoki Mori and Yasumasa Kuwahara (2012)
Chemical ecology of astigmatid mites LXXXVII. S-(+)-isopiperitenone: Re-identification of the alarm pheromone as the female sex pheromone in Tyrophagus similis (Acari: Acaridae)
Journal of Chemical Ecology 38 (1), 36-41
Abstract: Behavioral analysis revealed that S-(+)-isopiperitenone [(S)-3-methyl-6-isopropenyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one], previously identified as an alarm pheromone, is also the female sex pheromone of Tyrophagus similis (Astigmata: Acaridae), showing maximum male attraction at a dose of 0.1 female equivalent. Although the antipode, R-(−)-isopiperitenone, was not detectable in the mite extract, this synthetic optical isomer (80% e.e.) also induced activity at a dose of 100 ng, a response indicative of S-(+)-isopiperitenone being the active compound. The average content was determined to be 38.5 ng per female and 19.8 ng per male. This is the first example of an astigmatid mite species possessing a compound that functions as an alarm as well as a sex pheromone.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Yasumasa Kuwahara

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pheromones/attractants/traps

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tyrophagus similis