Many animal species communicate using chemical signals. In Drosophila, cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are involved in species and sexual identification, and have long been thought to act as stimulatory pheromones as well. However, a previous study reported that D. melanogaster males were more attracted to females that were lacking CHCs. This surprising result is consistent with several evolution...

A method is described for discovering pheromones of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), using affinity chromatography with the pheromone-binding proteins of the ant. Proteins in the pheromoneand odorant-binding protein family, which are abundant in moths and other insect species, are not apparent in fire ant antennae. Two other types of hydrophobic lig...

Termite colonies, composed of large numbers siblings, develop an important caste-based division labor; individuals in these societies interact via intra- or intercaste chemical communications. For more than 50 years, termites have been known to use a variety pheromones perform tasks necessary for maintenance their societies, similar eusocial hymenopterans. Although trail-following chemically id...

Abstract Many taxa utilise chemosensation as their primary sensory modality and communicate with one another using pheromones. Sex-attractant pheromones facilitate mate location provide information regarding the reproductive status of potential mate. Snakes have adaptively radiated to many different habitats, some which preclude possibility depositing a continuous terrestrial pheromone trail (e...

In insects, sexual behavior depends on chemical and non-chemical cues that might play an important role in sexual isolation. In this review, we present current knowledge about sexual behavior in the Drosophila genus. We describe courtship and signals involved in sexual communication, with a special focus on sex pheromones. We examine the role of cuticular hydrocarbons as sex pheromones, their i...

In Brazil, four populations of Lutzomyia longipalpis each producing different sex pheromones are recognised. It has been suggested that these chemotype populations represent true sibling species. In this study we present the results of an analysis, by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, of the pheromones of males L. longipalpis from two different municipalities of the state of São Pau...

Agents guided by synthetic pheromones can imitate the dynamics of insects. These systems are well suited to problems such as the control of unmanned robotic vehicles. We have developed a model for controlling robotic vehicles in combat missions using synthetic pheromones. In the course of our experimentation, we have identified the need for proper tuning of the algorithms to get acceptable perf...

Introduction Pheromonal signals provide specific information concerning the identity, gender, endocrine, and social status of different members of the population in a variety of mammals [1;2]. Pheromones have been found in saliva, skin gland secretions, and urine. For example, pheromones in urine excreted from male and female rats induce various changes in gonadal functions such as reflex ovula...

In mammalian species, detection of pheromone cues by the vomeronasal organ (VNO) at different concentrations can elicit distinct behavioral responses and endocrine changes. It is not well understood how concentration-dependent activation of the VNO impacts innate behaviors. In this study, we find that, when mice investigate the urogenital areas of a conspecific animal, the urinary pheromones ca...

Pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) are essential for the filtering, binding and transporting of sex pheromones across sensillum lymph to membrane-associated pheromone receptors of moths. In this study, three novel PBP genes were expressed in Escherichia coli to examine their involvement in the sex pheromone perception of Maruca vitrata. Fluorescence binding experiments indicated that MvitPBP1-3 ...