Diet-derived male sex pheromone compounds affect female choice in a noctuid moth

© 2023. The Author(s)..

Sexual signals often function in species recognition and may also guide mate choice within a species. In noctuid moths, both males and females may exercise mate choice. Females of the tobacco budworm Chloridea virescens prefer to mate with larger males, but the signal(s) underlying female choice remain unknown. Male hairpencil volatiles are emitted during close range courtship displays. However, previously identified male hairpencil volatiles, namely acetate esters, aldehydes, alcohols, and fatty acids, are not associated with female choice. Recently, two new hairpencil compounds were identified that elicit strong electrophysiological responses in female antennae: methyl salicylate (MeSA) and δ-decalactone. In this study, we investigated the effect of larval diet and adult feeding on MeSA and δ-decalactone content in hairpencils and determined whether these compounds are involved in female choice. We found that larval diet affected MeSA content in hairpencils, but not δ-decalactone. Conversely, adult feeding affected the level of δ-decalactone, but not MeSA: sugar-water feeding increased δ-decalactone content compared to plain water. In two-choice assays, females mated more with males that had higher amounts of δ-decalactone, and less with males with higher amounts of MeSA.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2023

Erschienen:

2023

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:13

Enthalten in:

Scientific reports - 13(2023), 1 vom: 13. Nov., Seite 19802

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Zweerus, Naomi L [VerfasserIn]
van Wijk, Michiel [VerfasserIn]
Schal, Coby [VerfasserIn]
Groot, Astrid T [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

059QF0KO0R
Journal Article
Pheromones
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Sex Attractants
Water

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 15.11.2023

Date Revised 29.11.2023

published: Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1038/s41598-023-47041-8

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM364488565