Dibutyl phthalate released by solitary female locusts mediates sexual communication at low density

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Cui, Weichan; Ge, Jin; Chen, Dafeng; Nie, Xin; Dong, Liushu; Wang, Xianhui; Kang, Le
• 署名单位: Chinese Academy of Sciences; Institute of Zoology, CAS; China Agricultural University; Hebei University
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-9085
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401926121
• 发表日期: 2024-07-23
• 关键词: schistocerca-gregaria orthoptera; desert locust; pheromone components; receptor family; identification; EVOLUTION; BEHAVIOR; aggregation; volatiles; acrididae

摘要

Sex pheromones play a crucial role in mate location and reproductive success. Insects face challenges in finding mates in low- density environments. The population dynamics of locusts vary greatly, ranging from solitary individuals to high- density swarms, leading to multiple- trait divergence between solitary and gregarious phases. However, differences in sexual communication between solitary and gregarious locusts have not been sufficiently explored. Herein, we found that solitary locusts but not gregarious ones heavily is abundantly released by solitary female locusts and elicits strong attraction of male solitary and gregarious locusts. Solitary adult males display much higher electrophysiological responses to DBP than adult females. Additionally, LmigOr13 was identified as the DBP- specific odorant receptor expressed in neurons housed in basiconic sensilla. iments. Notably, the attractiveness of DBP to male locusts becomes more evident at lower population densities imposed by controlling the cage size. This finding sheds light on the utilization of a sex pheromone to promote reproductive success in extremely low- density conditions and provides important insights into alternative approaches for population monitoring of locusts.