Sex pheromones from male forewings of the Common Grass Yellow Eurema mandarina

The scent chemistry of butterflies

“…158,159,164 As in Colias , the concentration of both 117 and 149 increases with age, implying there to be a representation of sexual maturity. 161,164…”

“…150 Males of Eurema mandarina, the common grass yellow, of the tribe Euremini utilize male aphrodisiac sex pheromones released by androconia, inducing female acceptance. 164 Solvent extract of wings revealed hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (117) and (E/Z)-phytal (149, E : Z 4 : 1) as male specic compounds of the forewings (Fig. 32).…”

“…While most other compounds are shared by both sexes, the oxygenated terpenoids 117 and 149 only occur in much smaller amounts in females than in males. 164 Bioassays with virgin females demonstrated that 117 and 149 act synergistically as aphrodisiac sex pheromones, evoking mate acceptance in one-third of females. The response is weaker than with males, hinting at potentially other involved compounds.…”

“…164 As only responses were triggered when females were approached and touched by males, the signal acts in short-range or on contact. 158,159,164 As in Colias, the concentration of both 117 and 149 increases with age, implying there to be a representation of sexual maturity. 161,164 6.3 Pierinae…”

Tribute to Professor Kenji Mori and his contribution to Chemical Ecology

“…The paper from the Ômura Group (Yoshimori et al 2022) describes identification and synthesis of compounds from the wing glands of males of the common grass yellow butterfly, Eurema mandarina. Detailed studies of the morphology of the forewing and demonstration of the aphrodisiac activity of the compounds advance our knowledge of chemical communication in these butterflies.…”