Induced Maturation and Spawning by Sex Pheromones in Female Mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris)

Maturation of the 4th phase oocytes of mudskipper is induced in vitro by sexpheromones,the extract of ovary,testis and seminal vesicle,oxytocini and deoxycorticosterone(DOC).Maturation rates of oocytes are related to pheromones and their dosages.The single use ofprostaglandin E_1(PGE_1)is not effective in the induction oi maturation,but the combination ofPGE_1 with HCG promotes oocyte maturation rates.Maturation is induced by injections of the extractof the ovary at dosages of 0.01 cm^3/a fish,seminal vesicle extract at dosages of 0.1 cm^3/a fish,testis extract at dosage of 0.1 cm^3/a fish,or PGE_1 at dosage of 10μg/fish,respectively.Amongthem,seminal vesicle extract is the most effective in the induction of maturation.The artificialnests,with the extract of the ovary,testis or seminal vesicle inside,attract more heterosexualmudskippers than homosexual mudskippers to enter.Especially,the extract of seminal vesicle is themost effective in attracting females.Female mudskippers could be induced to spawn by the extractsof ovary,testis and seminal vesicle placed inside both the ceramic and sponge nests.More spawnedeggs and higher fertilization rates are observed in the ceramic nests than in the sponge ones.

Identification of Female Main Component Sex Pheromones of Orthaga achatina(Lepidoptera:Pyralidae) and Their Attractiveness to Moths

[Objective] The aim is to identify the composition of female sex pheromones of Orthaga achatina and to understand the differential attractiveness of these components to Orthaga achatina moths. [Method] The pheromone glands of female moths were extracted and analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy（GC-MS）; the chemical analysis was confirmed by electroantennogram（EAG） bioassays; a field trial was conducted to confirm the optimized blends. [Result] Z11-16：Ac could elicit the largest EAG responses in male moths at all the doses tested. EAG responses to plant volatiles and to the pheromone isomers of Z11-16：Ac were at a similar level and lower than the responses to Z11-16：Ac. In the field tests, it was demonstrated that synthetic Z11-16：Ac was significantly more attractive to male O. achatina moths, that its pheromone isomers, whether these were presented alone or in mixtures with Z11-16：Ac. [Conclusion]（Z）-11-hexadecenyl acetate（Z11-16：Ac） was identified as the main component of the sex pheromone and it was demonstrated that synthetic Z11-16：Ac was significantly more attractive to male O. achatina moths.

A NEW APPROACH TO THE SYNTHESES OF THE PHEROMONES OF JAPANESE BEETLE AND BONTEBOK WITH(Z)-VINYL CUPRATES

The dl-form of the sex pheromone of Japanese b(?)tle and the trail pheromone of Bontebok were synthesised in high purity of (Z)-olefinic configuration. The key step of the syntheses of compounds (1) and (2) involved stereospecific addition of n-alkyl cuprates to acetylene followed by addition of vinyl cuprates to aldehyde (7) and 3-buten--2-one.

Utilizing Colored Pheromones and Helping Ants for Wireless Mesh Networks Routing

Improving routing algorithm performance not only leads to appreciate the quality of data transmission, but also increases the speed of data transfer. In this paper we propose a hybrid method which is a combination of traffic classification by the help of colored pheromones and helping ants method in the intermediate nodes. This combination increases the convergence speed and decreases the delay and Jitter in the network. Also we compare the obtained results with two known routing algorithms that are based on the ant colony.

Control Effect and Cost Evaluation of Different Sex Pheromones and Trapping Lamps against Spodoptern litura,Helicoverpa assulta and Helicoverpa armigera in Tobacco

[ Objective] The aim was to study the control effect of different sex pheromones and trapping lamps against main pests in tobacco. [ Method] Control effect of sex pheromone of different matrix lures and Jiaduo trapping lamp against Spodoptern litura, Helicoverpa assulta and Helicoverpa armigera in tobacco in Teng- chong of Yunnan were determined and compared, and the control cast was evaluated. [Result] The use of insect sex pheromones and insecticidal light traps had certain effect against S. litura and H. armiger. The trapping effect of sex pheromone traps was better than that of Jiaduo trapping lamp, and the PVC matrix lure had better performance than rubber matrix lure, which had strongest capturing capacity, continuous control effect and significant effort against S. litura. The traps with different settled densities and hanging heights also had different trapping effect against S. litura and H. armiger, and the hanging height of 100 - 150 cm from ground was the best; as the cost was considered, the cast of the area with low density of traps was the lowest, which was reduced by over 44% than conventional chemical control area. [ Conclusion] It is safe and effective to use sex pheromone and insecticidal light traps to control S. litura and H. armigera, and it is a green environmental protection biological physical control technology, having extended application prospect in large area.

Synthesis of the Stereoisomers of the Sex Pheromones of the Southern Corn Rootworm

A simple and efficient asymmetric synthesis of the sex pheromone of the southern corn rootworm is discribed. The key step is the asymmetric Michael addition of enoylsultam with virtually complete asymmetric induction( e.e. %>99%)

Stereoselective Synthesis of the Pheromones of Ant Tetramorium Impurm and Leptogenys Diminuta

( 3R,4S )-4-Methyl-3-hexanol and ( 3R,4S )-4-methyl-3-heptanol, which are the pheromones of ant Tetramorium impurm and Leptogenys diminuta , were stereoselectively synthesized by six step sequence starting from N bornane 10,2 sultam separately, the two asymmetric carbon atoms of the target products were created by employing asymmetric syn aldolization of N acylbornane 10,2 sultam with propylaldehyde. The enantiomeric excess of the target products prepared by this route is over 92%.

Control Effects of Different Densities of Chemical Pheromones against Tobacco Cutworm Moth ( Spodoptera litura)

[ Objective ] The paper was to study the most suitable density of chemical pheromone to control Spodoptera litura in tobacco fields. [ Method ] Sixteen traps （ 4 lines x 4 rows） were placed according to the specifications of 25. 8 m ×25.8 m （ 15. 0 trap/hm2 ）, 31. 6 m× 31.6 m （ 10.0 trap/hm2 ） and 36.5 m × 36.5m （ 7.5 trap/hm2 ）. Meanwhile, a control area larger than 2 hm2 was set up with three repetitions. [ Result] Without consideration of impact of wind direc- tion, the amount of trapping moth increased with the increasing controlled area of single trap, but difference of trapping amount of moth was not significant under three different density treatments. Three placement densities could effectively control S. liture in tobacco fields, thereby reduce the use of pesticides and protect the natural enemies and reduce the control cost. [Conclusion] The suitable density of chemical pheromone traps to control S. litura was 31. 6 m x31. 6 m （10.0 trap/hm2 ）.

Pheromones in Human Urine: A Study

The present study was conducted to understand if pheromone or any similar substance was present in human semen and whether it could be recognized by smell. One hundred and fifty two subjects of either sex participated in this study. The study lasted for one month. They were to identify urine by smell. Daily first urine sample was submitted by five male and five female subjects for this study. Menstrual status of female subjects was recorded. Many distinguished the smell of urine of male from that of female. Interestingly male subjects recognized the smell of female urine of ovulation day. Reason may be pheromone. A woman may be releasing maximally pheromone on this day. This supports the theory of pheromone which attracts a man to a woman on her ovulation day.

Identification of an odorant receptor responding to sex pheromones in Spodoptera frugiperda extends the novel type-I PR lineage in moths

moths,pheromone receptors(PRs)are crucial for intraspecific sexual communication between males and females.Moth PRs are considered as an ideal model for studying the evolution of insect PRs,and a large number of PRs have been identified and functionally characterized in different moth species.Moth PRs were initially thought to fall into a single monophyletic clade in the odorant receptor(OR)family,but recent studies have shown that ORs in another lineage also bind type-I sex pheromones,which indicates that type-I PRs have multiple independent origins in the Lepidoptera.In this study,we investigated whether ORs of the pest moth Spodoptera frugiperda belonging to clades closely related to this novel PR lineage may also have the capacity to bind type-I pheromones and serve as male PRs.Among the 7 ORs tested,only 1(SfruOR23)exhibited a male-biased expression pattern.Importantly,in vitro functional characterization showed that SfruOR23 could bind several type-I sex pheromone compounds with Z-9-tetradecenal(Z9-14:Ald),a minor component found in female sex pheromone glands,as the optimal ligand.In addition,SfruOR23 also showed weak responses to plant volatile organic compounds.Altogether,we characterized an S.frugiperda PR positioned in a lineage closely related to the novel PR clade,indicating that the type-I PR lineage can be extended in moths.

Effects of bark beetle pheromones on the attraction of Monochamus alternatus to pine volatiles

We evaluated the attraction ofMonochamus alternatus Hope （Coleoptera： Cerambycidae）, Dryocoetes luteus Blandford and Orthotomicus erosus Wollaston （Coleoptera： Curculionidae： Scolytinae） to multiple-funnel traps baited with the pine volatiles, ethanol and （＋）-α-pinene and the bark beetle pheromones, ipsenol and ipsdienol. M. alternatus were attracted to traps baited with ethanol and （＋）-α-pinene but not those baited with ipsdienol and ipsenol. Ipsdienol and ipsenol decreased catches ofM. alternatus in traps baited with ethanol and （＋）-α-pinene. Traps baited with either binary combinations of ethanol and （＋）-α-pinene or ipsdienol and ipsenol were attractive to D. luteus and O. erosus. The addition of ipsenol and ipsdienol to traps baited with ethanol and （＋）-α-pinene synergized attraction of O. erosus but not D. luteus .

Target detection for multi-UAVs via digital pheromones and navigation algorithm in unknown environments

Coordinating multiple unmanned aerial vehicles(multi-UAVs)is a challenging technique in highly dynamic and sophisticated environments.Based on digital pheromones as well as current mainstream unmanned system controlling algorithms,we propose a strategy for multi-UAVs to acquire targets with limited prior knowledge.In particular,we put forward a more reasonable and effective pheromone update mechanism,by improving digital pheromone fusion algorithms for different semantic pheromones and planning individuals’probabilistic behavioral decision-making schemes.Also,inspired by the flocking model in nature,considering the limitations of some individuals in perception and communication,we design a navigation algorithm model on top of Olfati-Saber’s algorithm for flocking control,by further replacing the pheromone scalar to a vector.Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can yield superior performance in terms of coverage,detection and revisit efficiency,and the capability of obstacle avoidance.

SYNTHESES OF INSECT PHEROMONES BY PHASE TRANSFER CATALYTIC WITTIG REACTION

Ⅰ. INTRODUCTIONWittig reaction has been widely used in the syntheses of insect pheromones. However, the conventional route is not suitable for large-scale syntheses because it is hard to operate. The successful application of phasc transfer catalysis makes the operation of Wittig reaction markedly convenient. At prcsent more investigations on PTC Wittig reaction have bccn reported. But almost all arc on the PTC

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated PBP1 and PBP3 mutagenesis induced significant reduction in electrophysiological response to sex pheromones in male Chilo suppressalis

Pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) are thought to bind and transport sex pheromones onto the olfactory receptors on the dendrite membrane of olfactory neurons, and thus play a vital role in sex pheromone perception. However, the function of PBPs has rarely been demonstrated in vivo.In this study, two PBPs (PBP1 and PBP3) of Chilo suppressalis, one of the most notorious pyralid pests, were in vivo functionally characterized using insects with the PBP gene knocked out by the CRISPR/Cas9 system. First, through direct injection of PBP-single guide RNA (sgRNA)/Cas9 messenger RNA into newly laid eggs, a high rate of target-gene editing (checked with polled eggs) was induced at 24 h after injection, 21.3% for PBPl-sgRNA injected eggs and 19.5% for PBP3-sgRNA injected eggs. Second, by an in-crossing strategy, insects with mutant PBP1 or PBP3 (both with a premature stop codon) were screened and homozygous mutants were obtained in the G3 generation. Third, the mutant insects were measured for electroantennogram (EAG) response to female sex pheromones. As a result, both PBP mutant males displayed significant reduction in EAG response, and this reduction in PBP1 mutants was higher than that in PBP3 mutants, indicating a more important role of PBP1. Finally, the relative importance of two PBPs and the possible off target effect induced by sgRNA-injection are discussed. Taken together, our study provides a deeper insight into the function of and interaction between different PBP genes in sex pheromone perception of C. suppressalis, as well as a valuable reference in methodology for gene functional study in other genes and other moth species.

The evolution of female sex pheromones

The role of female sex pheromones in natural selection, particularly as a means for species recognition to avoid the generation of hybrid offspring with low fitness, has been widely explored and is generally accepted by scholars. However, the significance of sex pheromones in shaping mate choice （sexual selection） and in competition over breeding resources （social se- lection） has been largely ignored. The effect of sexual selection on sex pheromones as a sexually dimorphic signaling trait has been discounted because the amount of pheromone released by females is typically minute, while the role of sex pheromones in competition over breeding resources （other than mates） has not yet been considered. As a result of natural selection, variation in sex pheromones among females is expected to be low, and males are not expected to choose their mates among phero- mone-releasing conspecific females. Sexual selection, on the other hand, should drive the increase in pheromone variance among females, and males are expected to choose females based on this variation. Moreover, social selection resulting from more general social interactions, for example competition among females for breeding sites and food, should also promote variance among female sex pheromones. Here, we review the cttrrent evidence for each of the three selection processes acting on sex pheromones of female moths as an advertising trait. We suggest that the three selection types are not mutually exclusive but rather act together to promote different fimess components in diverse ecological situations

Moth sex pheromones affect interspecific competition among sympatric species and possibly population distribution by modulating pre-mating behavior

Premating behaviors mediated by pheromones play pivotal roles in animal mating choices.In natural populations of the striped stem borer Chilo suppressalis and the rice leaf roller Cnaphalocrocis medinalis in the rice field habitat,we discovered that Z11-16:Ald,a major component of the C.suppressalis pheromone,modulated the premating behavior of C.medinalis.Z11-16:Ald evoked a strong olfactory response in male antennae and strongly inhibited the sex pheromone trapping of male C.medinalis in the field.The functions of three C.medinalis sex pheromone receptor genes(CmedPR1–3)were verified through heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes.CmedPR1 responded to Z11-18:OH and Z11-18:Ald,as well as the interspecific pheromone compound Z11-16:Ac of sympatric species;CmedPR2 responded to Z13-18:OH and Z13-18:Ald,as well as the sex pheromone compounds Z11-16:Ald and Z9-16:Ald of sympatric species;and CmedPR3 responded to Z11-18:OH and Z13-18:OH,as well as the interspecific pheromones Z11-16:OH,Z9-16:Ald,Z11-16:Ac,and Z11-16:Ald of sympatric species.Thus,CmedPR2 and CmedPR3 share the ligand Z11-16:Ald,which is not a component of the C.medinalis sex pheromone.Therefore,the sex pheromones of interspecific species affected the input of neural signals by stimulating the sex pheromone receptors on the antennae of male C.medinalis moths,thereby inhibiting the olfactory responses of the male moths to the sex pheromones.Our results demonstrate chemical communication among sympatric species in the rice field habitat,the recognition of intra-and interspecific sex pheromones by olfactory receptors,and how insect premating behaviors are modulated to possibly affect resource partitioning.

Endocrine pheromones couple fat rationing to dauer diapause through HNF4αnuclear receptors

Developmental diapause is a widespread strategy for animals to survive seasonal starvation and environmental harshness.Diapaused animals often ration body fat to generate a basal level of energy for enduring survival.How diapause and fat rationing are coupled,however,is poorly understood.The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans excretes pheromones to the environment to induce a diapause form called dauer larva.Through saturated forward genetic screens and CRISPR knockout,we found that dauer pheromones feed back to repress the transcription of ACOX-3,MAOC-1,DHS-28,DAF-22(peroxisomalβ-oxidation enzymes dually involved in pheromone synthesis and fat burning),ALH-4(aldehyde dehydrogenase for pheromone synthesis),PRX-10 and PRX-11(peroxisome assembly and proliferation factors).Dysfunction of these pheromone enzymes and factors relieves the repression.Surprisingly,transcription is repressed not by pheromones excreted but by pheromones endogenous to each animal.The endogenous pheromones regulate the nuclear translocation of HNF4αfamily nuclear receptor NHR-79 and its co-receptor NHR-49,and,repress transcription through the two receptors.The feedback repression maintains pheromone homeostasis,increases fat storage,decreases fat burning,and prolongs dauer lifespan.Thus,the exocrine dauer pheromones possess an unexpected endocrine function to mediate a peroxisome-nucleus crosstalk,coupling dauer diapause to fat rationing.

Exaggerated male pheromones in rats may increase predation cost

Male animals with more conspicuous visual and acoustic signals increase their mating success, but also increase the risk of being attacked by eavesdropping predators. In rodents, males with richer sex pheromones often have higher attractiveness to females, but whether or not the males are also at higher predation risk is poorly known. Here, we used 2 laboratory inbred strains of the rat Rattus norvegicus, Brown Norway （BN） and Lewis （LEW）, and wild-captured rats as odor donors to assess the relationship between the pheromone levels in male rats and attractiveness to domes- tic cats Felis catus. LEW rats had significantly higher levels of male pheromones （e.g., 4-heptanone, 2-heptanone, and 9-hydroxy-2-nonanone） than BN rats. Simultaneously, wild-captured male rats were selectively assigned to 2 groups （HIGH or LOW） based on pheromone content as determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS）. Binary choice tests were carried out during the night in the test room. We found that cats spent more time investigating male bedding and urine of LEW rats than the counterpart of BN rats. Likewise, cats also preferred bedding and urine odor of the HIGH wild rats compared with the counterparts of LOW wild rats. Adding synthetic ana- logs of the 3 pheromone ketones into the urine of either BN rats or LOW wild rats significantly increased their attractiveness to cats. Our data suggest that the rats with exaggerated male phero- mones more strongly attracted predators and thus as a consequence may suffer from elevated pre- dation risk.

Pheromones emitted by both female and male moths regulate coordination between the sexes for Agriphila aeneociliella (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The complex and efficient sex pheromone communication system in insects is essential for reproduction and for reproductive isolation of species.In moths,sex pheromone communication starts with male attraction to compounds emitted by females;only a few species act in the reverse.However,how the pheromones that are emitted by both sexes co-regulate and coordinate mate finding and mating remains unknown.Here,we identified both the male and female pheromones of Eastern Grass Veneer moth,Agriphila aeneociliella(Lepidoptera:Crambidae),and demonstrated their efficiency in manipulating behavioral responses of the opposite sex.Combining data from analysis of gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection,gas chromatography-mass spectrometry,and olfactory behavior assays,the female pheromone of A.aeneociliella was identified as(Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienal and(Z)-9-hexadecenyl acetate,while the male pheromone was determined to be 1-nonanal.Both the 2 individual components of the female pheromone and their binary mixture were significantly attractive to males,and the 1-nonanal male pheromone induced strong electrophysiological responses in females and induced attraction of females in a Y-tube olfactory test.Depending on the concentration of 1-nonanal,its addition to the binary mixture of the female pheromone either enhanced(10^(−3) or 10^(−2)μg/μL)or reduced(1μg/μL)the aphrodisiac effect of the mixture on males.In wind-tunnel bioassays,different concentrations of pheromones,including the binary mixture of female pheromone and the mixture of male and female pheromones,had significant effects on male behavior.Our findings suggested that the blend of both female and male pheromones plays a significant role in the sexual communication system in some moths.

Analysis of sleep in individual Drosophila melanogaster reveals a self-regulatory role for cuticular hydrocarbons pheromones

It is well established that pheromones are used by insects to transmit infor-mation between individuals.However,research has revealed that individual insects can be both the sender and the receiver of some pheromonal signals.It is therefore interesting to consider whether the pheromonal state of an individual insect can exert an effect on itself.In this study,we monitored the sleep activity of single flies exhibiting a mutation that leads to pheromonal deficiency and found that cuticular hydrocarbons(CHs)exerted self-regulatory effects on the amount of sleep experienced by these flies.To identify the physiological significance of this mechanism,we compared the amounts of sleep in in-dividual young flies and individual old flies(flies are known to sleep less as they get older)and compared this data with young and old flies exhibiting mutations that lead to CH reception defects.The differences in the amount of sleep experienced by young and old mutant flies were significantly lower than those of the control flies.Our data show that hydrocarbon signals produced by the cuticle in Drosophila can be self-perceived and regulate the amount of sleep acquired in a maturation-dependent manner.