Deception is a crucial yet incompletely understood strategy of social parasites. In central Europe, the Mountain Alcon Blue, Maculinea rebeli, a highly endangered butterfly, parasitises several Myrmica ant species. Caterpillars gain access to host nests probably by faking the ants' odour. We analysed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data of body surface hydrocarbons of pre-adoption and hibernated larvae of Maculinea rebeli and of their host species Myrmica sabuleti and M. schencki. Data were ordinated by different methods, based on similarities in the relative quantities of compounds between chromatograms. The two Myrmica species exhibit species-specific profiles. The Maculinea rebeli pre-adoption larva has a complex profile that simultaneously contains species-specific substances of the two investigated host species. This evidence leads to the interpretation that, in central Europe, Maculinea rebeli is predisposed for multi-host use by the chemical signature of its pre-adoption larva. The Maculinea rebeli larva clearly does not rely on an "intersection-odour" of compounds common to all host ant species, but synthesises an "aggregate-odour" containing specific compounds of each of the investigated hosts. We term this previously unknown chemical strategy "aggregate-odour multi-host mimicry".
The headspace, the essential oil, and a pentane extract of domestic apple flowers (Malus silvestris var. Domestica) were analyzed b y GC-FID and GC-FTIR-MS. More than 40 compounds were identified in the samples. The main headspace constituents, in addition to the terpenic compounds limonene, 3-carene, a-pinene, a-humulene, terpinolene, geraniol, linalool, and (2)-and (E)-citral, are benzaldehyde, eugenol, and benzyl alcohol accompanied by the acetates of these and other alcohols. Additional information on the odor characterization of these samples is given.
Abstract. The analysis of odour components in East Indian SandalwoodOil ( Santalum album L.) and in Patchouli Oil ( Pogostemon cablin Benth.) based on GC-, GC-FTIR-and GC-MS-data resulted in the identification of a~-santalene, a'-santalal, fl-santalal, epi-fl-santalal, a'-santalol, fl-santalol, (E)-fl-santalol, c~-bergamotol and spirosantalol in Sandalwood Oil and of (-)-patchoulol, c~-guaiene, o~-patchoulene, seychellene, c~-bulnesene, norpatchoulenol and pogostol in Patchouli Oil as the most intense aroma compounds of these oils.
After inhalation experiments with sandalwood oil and the pure fragrance compounds coumarin and alpha-terpineol, substances were detected and measured in the blood samples of test animals (mice) using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) (MID) in connection with GC/FTIR (SWC), GC/AES (carbon and oxygen trace) and flame ionization detection/gas chromatography. Using tiglinic acid benzyl ester as the internal standard the following concentrations in serum could be found: alpha-santalol 6.1 ng/mL, beta-santalol 5.3 ng/mL and alpha-santalene 0.5 ng/mL. In separate inhalation experiments with coumarin and with alpha-terpineol the corresponding concentrations were 7.7 ng/mL and 6.9 ng/mL, respectively.
The fragrance compounds linalool (1) and linalyl acetate (2) could be detected, identified and quantified (1: 7-9 ng ml-1; and 2: 1-2 ng ml-1 and 4-5 ng ml-1 as free linalool) in blood samples after inhalation in animal experiments (mice) by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with chemical ionization (CI) (ammonia); selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode (1: m/z 81, 137 and 154; 2: 47, 57 and 137) and GC/flame ionization detection (FID). The inhalation of these monoterpenes in concentrations of 5 mg l-1 air leads to a significant reduction of the motility of the test animals down to 30-40% with respect to the control group.
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