Sex Pheromone and Trail Pheromone of the Sand Termite Psammotermes hybostoma

Abstract

Within the complex network of chemical signals used by termites, trail pheromones and sex pheromones are among the best known. Numerous recent papers map the chemical identity and glandular origin of these pheromones in nearly all major isopteran taxa. In this study, we aimed to describe the sex pheromone and the trail pheromone of a poorly known sand termite, Psammotermes hybostoma. We identified (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodeca-3,6,8-trien-1-ol (dodecatrienol) as the sex pheromone released by tergal and sternal glands of female imagos and, at the same time, as the trail pheromone secreted from the sternal gland of workers. We conclude that chemical communication in Psammotermes does not differ from that of most other Rhinotermitidae, such as Reticulitermes, despite the presence of a diterpene as a major component of the trail pheromone of Prorhinotermes to which Psammotermes is presumed to be phylogenetically close. Our findings underline once again the conservative nature of chemical communication in termites, with dodecatrienol being a frequent component of pheromonal signals in trail following and sex attraction and, at the same time, a tight evolutionary relationship between the trail following of working castes and the sex attraction of imagos.

Sex-Pairing Pheromone in the Asian Termite Pest Species Odontotermes formosanus

“…Some studies also showed that both (Z,Z)-dodeca-3,6-dien-1-ol and (Z)-dodec-3-en-1-ol are the components of the trail-following pheromone used by workers in O. formosanus (data not shown). These results underline the evolutionary parsimony between the trail-following pheromones of workers and the sex-pairing pheromones of imagoes (Bordereau et al, 1991(Bordereau et al, , 2010Robert et al, 2004;Sillam-Dussès et al, 2011).…”

Trail Communication Regulated by Two Trail Pheromone Components in the Fungus-Growing Termite Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki)

“…The chemical structure of the trail pheromone is the same than the one of the sex-pairing pheromone secreted by females of O. formosanus [29]. The identical chemical nature of the trail pheromone and the sex pheromone within a species has been reported in other species, such as (3 Z ,6 Z ,8 E )-dodeca-3,6,8-trien-1-ol in Psammotermes hybostoma [38], and syn -4,6-dimethyldodecanal in Zootermopsis nevadensis and Z. angusticollis [39]. This parsimonious use of the pheromone compounds within termite species is reinforced by the use of the same compounds among different species.…”

“…Open-field Y-shaped trail-following bioassays were performed on damp filter paper discs with a 120° angle between each branch, as described by Sillam-Dussès et al [38], Hall et al [45], and Traniello et al [8] (Figure S5). On the stem (3 cm) and/or on one of the Y branches (5 cm), a trail was drawn with a microliter syringe containing extract, standards or hexane control.…”

Developmental Pathways of Psammotermes hybostoma (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): Old Pseudergates Make up a New Sterile Caste

“…Despite its phylogenetic position, its peculiar biology, and pest status [30], very few studies have attempted to improve the basic knowledge of Psammotermes. Here, in the continuity of the recent characterization of Psammotermes hybostoma trail-following pheromone, sex-pairing pheromone, and soldier defensive secretion [3], [31], we investigate its caste developmental system. Two previous studies emphasized the enormous polymorphism of Psammotermes soldiers and apterous immatures [32], [33], but provided only superficial insights into the developmental scheme.…”