Pheromone Research Articles

Follow the pheromones' lead

Follow the pheromones' lead

Intranasal Pherines for Social Anxiety Disorder

No FDA approvals exist for treatments used “as needed” to thwart anxiety induction by public speaking, social get-togethers, and other situations associated with social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, several off-label treatments for these disorders are currently employed, often effectively — beta blockers, benzodiazepines at subsedating doses, and even alcohol. In early research, a synthetic neuroactive steroid pherine (in the family of pheromones), which selectively targets human nasal …

Can bees eavesdrop on biosecurity targets

Surveillance of unwanted organisms without lures is one of the greatest challenges in biosecurity Previous work in the USA has shown that honey bees (Apis mellifera) can be trained to detect land mines Based on this successfully proven method the possibility of detecting key species of agricultural and biosecurity interest in a field environment was examined Application examples presented here include detection of a weed in a crop such as rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) in wheat and detection of the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) in a field Bees were trained at the colony level on the specific odours of each target and their ability to locate these odours in the field was measured with video cameras Bees were able to detect rosemary hidden in a wheat crop and the cluster of four plants attracted significantly more bees than the positive and negative controls Similarly bees were shown to learn to detect the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) trail pheromone z9hexadecenal and their response ranged down to partspertrillion (ppt 1012) However there was a clear preference for higher concentrations that may be associated with higher expected rewards Detection thresholds and the sensitivity of bees are discussed

A 4-component sex pheromone of the Chilean fruit leaf roller Proeulia auraria (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The Chilean fruit leaf roller Proeulia auraria is a pest of economically important fruit species. Two compounds attractive to males have been identified as ( E )-11-tetradecenyl acetate (E11-14:OAc) and ( E )-11-tetradecenol (E11-14:OH) and are currently being used in Chile to monitor this species. Preliminary experiments carried out by our group suggested that the 2-compound mixture might not be optimal for the attraction of males, which prompted us to reinvestigate the sex pheromone of P. auraria in the present study. The pheromone component candidates were extracted from pheromone glands with hexane and identified by gas chromatography (GC) with electroantennographic detection (EAD), GC-mass spectrometry, and a comparison of the analytical data of the natural compounds with those of authentic reference substances. The EAD active compounds were identified as tetradecyl acetate (14:OAc), E11-14:OAc, ( Z )-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:OAc), and E11-14:OH in a relative ratio of 11:100:4:37, respectively. Field tests showed that all four compounds are behaviorally active. The most attractive blend, which is more attractive than the 2-component mixture that is currently in use, contained the main compound E11-14:OAc, 1% of the geometric isomer Z11-14:OAc, and both of the other minor compounds. Increasing the relative amount of Z11-14:OAc to 4% of the major component resulted in a significant reduction of attraction. An analysis of the fatty acid content of the pheromone gland revealed the presence of ( E )-11-tetradecenoate but not of ( Z )-11-tetradecenoate. The possible role in species isolation and the possible biosynthetic origin of this strongly E-biased pheromone are discussed. El enrollador de los frutales, Proeulia auraria es una plaga de frutales de importancia economica. Los compuestos acetato de ( E )-11-tetradecenilo (E11-14:OAc) y ( E )-11-tetradecenol (E11-14:OH) habian sido determinados como atrayentes a machos de P. auraria , los cuales actualmente estan siendo usados en Chile para el monitoreo de esta especie. Experimentos preliminares realizados por nuestro grupo de investigacion indicaron que la mezcla de estos dos compuestos no es optima para atraer machos, lo que nos llevo a reinvestigar los componentes de la feromona sexual de P. auraria . Los compuestos fueron extraidos desde la glandula feromonal con hexano, y fueron identificados usando cromatografia de gases con deteccion electroantenografica (GC-EAD), cromatografia de gases-espectrometria de masas (GC-MS) y comparacion de los datos analiticos de los compuestos naturales con los de compuestos autenticos de referencia. Los compuestos activos en EAD fueron identificados como acetato de tetradecilo (14:OAc), E11-14:OAc, acetato de ( Z )-11-tetradecenilo (Z11-14:OAc) y E11-14:OH, en la razon relativa de 11:100:4:37. Ensayos en condiciones de campo mostraron que los cuatro compuestos identificados son activos sobre el comportamiento de los machos. La mezcla mas atrayente y a la vez mas atractiva que la mezcla de dos compuestos actualmente en uso, contenia el compuesto principal E11-14:OAc, 1% del isomero geometrico Z11-14:OAc y ambos de los otros compuestos menores. Aumentar el porcentaje de Z11-14:OAc al 4% resulto en una reduccion significativa de atraccion de machos. Un analisis del contenido de acidos grasos de la glandula feromonal mostro la presencia de ( E )-11-tetradecenoato, pero no de ( Z )-11-tetradecenoato. Se discute el posible rol de esta feromona fuertemente sesgada hacia el isomero E en la separacion de especies y su posible origen biosintetico.

Review on Vehicle Routing Problem using Ant Colony Optimization

Vehicle routing problem (VRP) concerns the transport of items from a depot to its number of customers using group of vehicles. VRP needs method to solve problem in terms of best route to service the customers. The solution must ensure that all the customer s are served under the operational constraints and minimizing the overall cost. The solution can be obtained using one of the metaheuristic techniques Ant Colony Optimization (ACO). In Ant colony optimization a colony of artificial ants altogether find good solutions to difficult discrete optimization problems. It is not possible for each ant to find a solution to the problem under consideration which is probably a poor one, good-quality solutions can only emerge only if there is collective interaction among the ants. They act concurrently and independently and there, by their decision making process, finds the most efficient route. ACO helps in finding the best optimal path in vehicle routing as well. This paper presents a review on the application of ACO for solving VRP. The paper is mainly concerned with Capacitated VRP (CVRP) to explain the ACO optimization of VPR problem. Keywords: VRP, ACO, Pheromone, metaheuristic, CVRP

EFFICACY OF LONG-LASTING INSECTICIDAL NET (LLIN) IN CONTROLLING TOBACCO BEETLE (LASIODERMA SERRICORNE) IN MALAWI

The tobacco beetle, Lasioderma serricorne, is a serious insect pest of cured tobacco in Malawi. Fumigation with phosphine is the most common method of control for infested tobacco; however, fumigation has no residual effect and repeated fumigation is required in circumstances where reinfestation easily occurs. Refumigation of tobacco is costly and increases the chances of beetle resistance to phosphine. Experiments were conducted in tobacco warehouses in Lilongwe, Malawi to assess the efficacy of long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) combined with phosphine fumigation against the tobacco beetle. The adult beetles caught in pheromone traps placed on tobacco stacks covered with LLIN during a 13-week storage period were always significantly fewer than those without LLIN (untreated control). When tobacco stacks were covered with LLIN after fumigation with phosphine, the initial infestation is expected to be zero; the trap catches remained zero for the whole storage period in most cases. These results suggest t...

TRAIL-FOLLOWING RESPONSES OF THE RED WOOD ANT FORMICA RUFA L. IN DARKNESS

ABSTRACT The responses of the red wood ant, Formica rufa, to an artificial trail were examined in darkness in a controlled laboratory environment using a satiated colony. Artificial trails were prepared in four different solvents from the head, thorax+legs, and gaster extracts of foragers. Thorax+legs extracts did not elicit directional responses in foragers. Gaster extracts were consistently followed, suggesting that trail-following is induced by pheromones issued from gastric glands. Head extracts were also followed, but foragers displayed excitement, most probably in response to an alarm message.

Pheromones to protect GBR from crown-of-thorns?

Pheromones to protect GBR from crown-of-thorns?

Studies towards the Identification of the Sex Pheromone ofThyrinteina arnobia

A lagarta parda Thyrinteina arnobia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), e considerada no Brasil uma importante praga de plantas nativas, como Psidium guajava, e exoticas, como especies de Eucalyptus. Neste trabalho e relatado o isolamento dos componentes feromonais de T. arnobia, atraves de tecnicas de extracao de glândulas e micro-extracao em fase solida (SPME) de femeas virgens. As amostras coletadas foram analisadas por cromatografia a gas acoplada a um detector eletroantenografico (CG-EAD) e espectrometria de massas (CG-EM). Foram observadas duas respostas eletroantenograficas em antenas de machos de T. arnobia e as analises por CG-EM sugeriram a estrutura do 3,4-epoxi-6,9-eneicosadieno como componente majoritario. A sintese racemica deste epoxidieno foi realizada em 10 etapas com rendimento global de 28%. Foram tambem sintetizados os quatro estereoisomeros do epoxidieno a partir dos respectivos epoxialcoois enantiomericamente enriquecidos. The eucalyptus brown-looper Thyrinteina arnobia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is considered an important pest in Brazilian native plants, e.g. Psidium guajava, and exotic plants, such as Eucalyptus species. In this work we describe the isolation of the pheromone components of T. arnobia, using glands extract and solid phase micro extraction (SPME) of virgin females. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography with an electroantennographic detector (GC-EAD), and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Two reproducible electroantennographic responses were elicited in the male antenna of T. arnobia and one of them was identified as 3,4-epoxy-6,9-heneicosadiene by CG-MS. The racemic synthesis of this epoxydiene was carried out in 10 steps and 28% overall yield. The four stereoisomers of the epoxydiene were also synthesized employing the corresponding enantiomeric enriched epoxyalcohols.

Sexual reproduction in monogonont rotifers: A review

作为轮虫动物门的主体,单巢类轮虫是淡水浮游动物的重要组成部分.它们通常作为一类主要的初级消费者在淡水生态系统中起着重要作用,因而深入了解它们在自然水体中的种群动态及其决定机制对淡水生态系统理论与应用研究都有重要意义.作为一类具有典型周期性孤雌生殖生活史的动物,有性生殖的发生和进化策略对其种群动态和进化都有重要影响,因而单巢类轮虫有性生殖的机理和进化研究一直是轮虫学研究领域的一个核心内容.本文就当前单巢类轮虫有性生殖的主要研究进展,包括其发生机理、信息素、理论模型、影响因素和相关实证研究等进行了系统综述;特别就单巢类轮虫有性生殖策略的三个理论模型:bang-bang模型、中等有性生殖比率模型和非延迟的有性生殖模型进行了详细论述.此外,本文还对影响单巢类有性生殖的内外源因素进行了总结,主要的外源因素包括食物的浓度及种类、温度、盐度和特殊的细菌等,而主要的内源性因素则包括母体年龄、食物浓度诱导的跨代母系效应、延迟的有性生殖和其他一些潜在的母系效应因素等.其中,因为延迟的有性生殖现象广泛存在且可能是轮虫物种共存或克隆共存现象的一种潜在解释,所以就此现象的理论模型、机理和实证研究等方面进行了深入讨论.另外,本文还简要讨论性比率资源分配与单巢类轮虫有性生殖的关系.最后,对未来几个可能的热点方向简单评述,以期为国内轮虫学和相关方面的研究提供帮助.;This paper focuses on the recent findings of sexual reproduction in monogonont rotifers,which account for the main bulk of phylum Rotifera.Generally,they act as one of the major groups of primary consumers in freshwater ecosystem.Thus,studies on population dynamics and their mechanisms of monogonont rotifers may provide important data to both theoretical and applied research on freshwater ecosystems.As a group with parthenogenetic life history,sexual reproductive strategy in monogonont rotifers may profoundly affect their population dynamics and evolution.This review summarized several aspects of sexual reproduction in the monogonont rotifers,such as the mechanism,pheromones,models,influence factors,and particularly,empirical evidences.More specifically,we emphasized three models about their sexual reproduction patterns: bang-bangmodel,intermediate mictic ratios model and no-delaying mixis model.Then we summarized the exogenous and endogenous factors that affect sexual reproduction.The major exogenous factors include the concentration and type of food,temperature,salinity and special bacteria,while the major endogenous factors include the maternal age,a transgenerational maternal effect induced by food concentration,mixis delay and some potential maternal effects.We especially highlighted the model,mechanism and empirical evidences of mixis delay,since this phenomenon existed widely and was deem to be a potential explanation for species or clones coexistence.We also gave some personal views on the relationship between sex allocation theory and sexual reproduction in the monogonont rotifers.Finally,several potential hotspots in the future study were highlighted.

Stereoselective bioreduction of someMannich bases

The chemic reaction that happen on the live organism (plants, superior animals and microorganisms) produce various chiral substances such as pheromones, antibiotics and others. After the eighties, with the break of the dogma referent to the enzymatic utilization only in aqueous medias, diverse enzyme application were revealed in other reaction medias, what allowed new studies turned to enzymatic application in organic chemistry. Such studies revealed that these biocatalysts presented high selectivity in these medias, no only about to the chemoselectivity but especially to the enantioselectivity. According to what was exposed, this work aimed to execute the bioreduction of some Mannich bases using the microorganism Saccharomyces cerevisiae (sourdough bread). Scheme 1 shows the reaction scheme involving 1 eq.mol of the b-aminocarbonilated product, 10 mL of the suitable solvent and 0,5g of the biocatalys during four days at room temperature. These reactions presented satisfactory yields, which are in accordance with the literature.

Phycochemistry of some Sargassum spp. and their cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities

Purpose A comparative study on the chemical composition as well as cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of the brown algae Sargassum asperifolium, Sargassum dentifolium, and Sargassum linifolium (family: Sargassaceae) from the Red Sea, Hurghada, Egypt, is carried out. Methods The volatile constituents obtained by hydrodistillation as well as the isolated unsaponifiable matter and the fatty acids were analyzed using the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry technique. Antitumorigenic activities of the crude extracts of the three algae have been evaluated in vitro on different human cell lines. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activities of the volatile constituents, successive extractives, unsaponifiable matter, and fatty acids have been tested on 11 different microorganisms. Results The analysis of the volatile fraction led to the identification of sexual pheromones, terpenes, phenolic compounds, free fatty acids, and esters. The most abundant sterols of unsaponifiable matter were fucosterol and cholesterol in all algae. Palmitic acid was found in all investigated algae as a major fatty acid. Biological screening proved that the tested algae have various cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. Conclusion S. asperifolium, S. dentifolium, and S. linifolium are rich in cytotoxic and antimicrobial bioactive metabolites.

Human pheromones: epigenetic effects of odors and their affects on behavior

Human pheromones: epigenetic effects of odors and their affects on behavior

Human pheromones and nutrient chemicals: epigenetic effects on ecological, social, and neurogenic niches that affect behavior

Human pheromones and nutrient chemicals: epigenetic effects on ecological, social, and neurogenic niches that affect behavior

The genetics of pheromones: a search for indirect genetic effects and genomic regions for boar taint

The genetics of pheromones: a search for indirect genetic effects and genomic regions for boar taint

Nature inspired adaptive strategies for information sharing: individual vs. social information

acknowledgements This research was funded by Future Technologies Group & Programmable Networks Lab @ BT Research Labs, UK. Ashish Umre © 2012 ASAB Interdisciplinary Workshop: Physical Cognition and Problem Solving 2012 Social Insects use simple local communication (Pheromone trails, sound, touch) with low computational demands. Global structure (e.g. nest, trails) reliably emerges from the unreliable and unpredictable actions of many. Through direct and indirect (Stigmergetic) interactions, the society adapts and self-organises.

Response of the fruit fly parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata to host and host‐habitat volatile cues

AbstractChemical information is crucial to insect parasitoids for successful host location. Here, we evaluated the innate response of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a fruit fly larval parasitoid, to cues from host and host habitat (i.e., fruit infested with host larvae). We first assessed the preference of female parasitoids between oranges infested with Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and non‐infested fruit. Females were highly attracted towards infested oranges on the basis of volatile chemical cues. After this initial experiment, we aimed at revealing the potential sources of volatile cues present in an infested fruit. To this end, we considered five potential sources: (1) punctured fruit; (2) fly feeding, frass, or host‐marking pheromone deposited on the orange surface; (3) larval activity inside the fruit; (4) the larvae themselves; and (5) fungi associated with infestation of oranges. Habitat cues associated with host activity and those produced by rotten oranges or oranges colonized by fungi were highly attractive for female wasps, whereas odours associated with the activity of the adults on the surface of the fruit, and those released by the fruit after being damaged (as happens during fruit fly egg‐laying) were not used as cues by female parasitoids. Once the female had landed on the fruit, direct cues associated with larval activity became important although some indirect signals (e.g., products derived from larval activity inside the fruit) also increased host searching activity. Our findings indicate that naïve D. longicaudata uses chemical cues during host habitat searching and that these cues are produced both by the habitat and by the host larvae.

Pheromone monitoring of click beetles as a basis of elaters harmfulness forecast and sustainable insecticide applicationMonitoring feromonowy sprężykowatych jako podstawa do prognozowania szkód i celowości zabiegów chemicznych

Summary Soil excavation results determined the structure of elater dominance in grain crops and corn in Belarus. Three click beetle species were dominant: Agriotes sputator L., A. lineatus L., and A. obscurus L. A high efficiency of click beetle sexual pheromone was obtained. The pheromone was synthesised at the Organic Chemistry Department of the Belarussian State University. Click beetle monitoring with the help of pheromone traps, and a technique for defining wireworm population density, and their harmfulness forecast on the caught beetles is developed. The economic thresholds of wireworm harmfulness in agriculture were calculated. Beetle numbers were defined according to those caught in pheromone traps and the beetle numbers corresponded to larvae threshold indicators. An assortment of effective insecticidal seed dressers against the given pests was formed.

Fun with Your New Head: Getting into SF

M any a smart, literate newcomer to sf has tackled some seminal book, say, William Gibson’s Neuromancer (1984), only to abandon it, baffled and frustrated. Why? Samuel Delany’s insight parses the problem; this excerpt, the opening of Gibson’s Count Zero (1986), illustrates it: They set a slamhound on Turner’s trail in New Delhi, slotted it to his pheromones and the color of his hair. . . . Its core was a kilogram of recrystallized hexogene and flaked TNT. [. . .] Because he had a good agent, he had a good contract. Because he had a good contract, Fun with Your New Head Getting into SF

Forecasting of hazards caused by phytophagous pests occurring on vegetable cropsPrognozowanie zagrożeń powodowanych przez fitofagi występujące na uprawach roślin warzywnych

Summary In 2008–2011, the Research Institute of Horticulture in Skierniewice carried out the project No. 1.14 „Prediction the risks caused by pests occurring in vegetable crops” within the framework of the Long‐term Programme „Development of sustainable methods for horticultural production in order to provide high‐quality nutritional and biological of horticultural products and to preserve biodiversity and protect its resources” for 2008–2014. Field experiments were conducted on the utility of pheromone, odour and sticky traps for monitoring main pest species of vegetables: cutworms, carrot fly, cabbage fly and western corn rootworm. The developed methods of monitoring of the pests occurrence will contribute to the determination of optimal dates for their controlling in some vegetables crops.