Electroantennographic responses of Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) to synthetic (3Z,6Z,8E)-Dodecatrien-1-ol

Abstract

O cupim subterrâneo Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) é uma importante praga na economia brasileira, causando danos em reflorestamentos de eucalipto e plantações de cana-deaçúcar. O (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodecatrien-1-ol tem sido descrito como feromônio de trilha em várias espécies da família Rhinotermitidae. Este trabalho teve como objetivo sintetizar este trieno e determinar, através da eletroantenografia, a seletividade e sensibilidade dos receptores antenais de H. tenuis ao (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodecatrien-1-ol e ao seu respectivo extrato de glândula esternal.The subterranean termite Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) is a pest of great importance for the Brazilian economy as it causes serious damages in commercial reforestations of Eucalyptus spp. and sugarcane cultures. (3Z,6Z,8E)-Dodecatrien-1-ol has been identified as a pheromone of some species of subterranean termites. The objective of this research was to synthesize (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodecatrien-1-ol and determine by electroantennographic (EAG) bioassays the selectivity and sensitivity of H. tenius antennae to its whole worker extract and to the synthetic triene alcohol.

Communication and Social Regulation in Termites

“…Dealation (i.e., loss of wings in alates) can provoke a change in the production or composition of chemical compounds, in terms of quality or quantity. The releaser pheromones used by the three genera of intermediate termites (and especially Coptotermes and Heterotermes) have yet to be clearly identified, even if Batista-Pereira et al (2004b) have shown that Heterotermes tenuis demonstrates somewhat of an electroantennographic response to synthetic dodecatrienol; their effects on behavior and their glands of origin also remain poorly characterized. The role that contact compounds such as long-chain hydrocarbons may play as fertility cues and signals of reproductive status was examined only in lower termites ; they have been shown to have these functions in other social insects, and it has been suggested that termites might have put to social use the compounds that their cockroach-like ancestors used for sexual communication (Weil et al 2009b).…”

Efficacy of indoxacarb and chlorfenapyr against Subterranean termite Heterotermes indicola (Wasmann) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in the laboratory

“…In Brazil and other parts of South America, Heterotermes is reported to cause severe economic loss, damaging forest trees like eucalypts and pines in addition to cash crops like cotton, rice, coffee and cassava. This termite genus is a widely distributed pest in sugarcane crops in Brazil and has been reported to cause crop losses of more than 10 t/ha annually (Batista-Pereira et al, 2004;Jenkins, 2006). In Pakistan, Heterotermes indicola (Wasmann) remains active throughout the year as being one of the most persistent subterranean termite species (Manzoor & Mir, 2010).…”

Biogeography and Independent Diversification in the Protist Symbiont Community of Heterotermes tenuis

“…Like other Heterotermes species, it forages underground and consumes wood in contact with soil (Mathews, 1977). It has been reported to cause damage to buildings and crops, including sugarcane and eucalyptus plantations (Constantino, 2002;Batista-Pereira et al, 2004;Haifig et al, 2008). Heterotermes tenuis exhibits both morphological and molecular diversity, suggesting that it may be considered a species complex rather than a singular species (Constantino, 2000;Carrijo, 2013).…”