Chemical Ecology of Astigmatid Mites XL Identification of the Alarm Pheromone and New C<SUB>17</SUB> Hydrocarbons from Tortonia sp., a Pest Attacking the Nest of Osmia cornifrons

Abstract

Z, Z-6, 9-Heptadecadiene was identified as the alarm pheromone of a Tortonia sp. [Astigmata : Suidasiidae] (Kenaga-tsutsuhana-chibikonadani, in Japanese) found in the nest of Osmia cornifrons (RADOSZKOWSKI). The synthetic compound was active at 100 ppm. From the mite extract, two new hydrocarbons, heptadecatriene and heptadecadiene, were obtained. Their chemical structures were elucidated as 4, 8, 11-heptadecartiene and 4, 8-heptadecadiene either by partial hydrogenation and subsequent GC/MS analysis of their dimethyldisulfide (DMDS) derivatives or by GC/MS analysis of their DMDS derivatives. Configurations of their double bonds were determined as Z by synthesis, which was also supported by GC-FT/IR measurement. Z, Z, z-4, 8, 11-heptadecatriene and Z, Z-4, 8-heptadecadiene are revealed to be new compounds of natural products from astigmatid mites.