Characterization of a Novel Male Pheromone Compound in Leucoptera sinuella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) and Its Role in Courtship Behavior
(2025) In Insects 16(1).- Abstract
The poplar moth, Leucoptera sinuella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), is widely distributed across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. It was first identified in Chile in 2015 and has since become a significant pest in the agricultural sector. Additionally, economic losses are further aggravated by the presence of L. sinuella pupae in nearby fruit orchards. This study investigated the presence of a male-produced sex pheromone in L. sinuella, focusing on the hairpencil (HP) glands, which are known as dissemination structures for male pheromones in lepidopterans. Male HP glands were solvent-extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Chemical microderivatization and comparisons of mass spectra and retention indices of... (More)
The poplar moth, Leucoptera sinuella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), is widely distributed across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. It was first identified in Chile in 2015 and has since become a significant pest in the agricultural sector. Additionally, economic losses are further aggravated by the presence of L. sinuella pupae in nearby fruit orchards. This study investigated the presence of a male-produced sex pheromone in L. sinuella, focusing on the hairpencil (HP) glands, which are known as dissemination structures for male pheromones in lepidopterans. Male HP glands were solvent-extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Chemical microderivatization and comparisons of mass spectra and retention indices of natural compounds with synthetic standards led to the identification of two compounds: (Z)-3-decenyl hexanoate (the major component) and (Z)-3-decen-1-ol (a minor component). Although electrophysiological assays did not show detectable antennal responses to (Z)-3-decenyl hexanoate, behavioral bioassays demonstrated its role as a short-range courtship signal in L. sinuella. Males with ablated hairpencils exhibited significantly reduced courtship success compared to controls; however, exposure of females to synthetic (Z)-3-decenyl hexanoate or HP extract restored male courtship success. To our knowledge, (Z)-3-decenyl hexanoate has not been previously reported as a sex pheromone component in any insect species, making this discovery an intriguing addition to the diversity of chemical communication in insects.
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- author
- Sánchez-Aros, Laura ; Queiroz, Abel F.O. ; Guajardo, Jorge ; Barros-Parada, Wilson ; Svensson, Glenn P. LU and Bergmann, Jan
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- (Z)-3-decenyl hexanoate, Leucoptera sinuella, male pheromone, mating behavior
- in
- Insects
- volume
- 16
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 32
- publisher
- MDPI AG
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:39859613
- scopus:85215784056
- ISSN
- 2075-4450
- DOI
- 10.3390/insects16010032
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.
- id
- 14c52052-c62a-4c2d-8b9c-f2d0b8712df0
- date added to LUP
- 2025-05-06 10:37:46
- date last changed
- 2025-05-07 03:00:03
@article{14c52052-c62a-4c2d-8b9c-f2d0b8712df0,
abstract = {{<p>The poplar moth, Leucoptera sinuella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), is widely distributed across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. It was first identified in Chile in 2015 and has since become a significant pest in the agricultural sector. Additionally, economic losses are further aggravated by the presence of L. sinuella pupae in nearby fruit orchards. This study investigated the presence of a male-produced sex pheromone in L. sinuella, focusing on the hairpencil (HP) glands, which are known as dissemination structures for male pheromones in lepidopterans. Male HP glands were solvent-extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Chemical microderivatization and comparisons of mass spectra and retention indices of natural compounds with synthetic standards led to the identification of two compounds: (Z)-3-decenyl hexanoate (the major component) and (Z)-3-decen-1-ol (a minor component). Although electrophysiological assays did not show detectable antennal responses to (Z)-3-decenyl hexanoate, behavioral bioassays demonstrated its role as a short-range courtship signal in L. sinuella. Males with ablated hairpencils exhibited significantly reduced courtship success compared to controls; however, exposure of females to synthetic (Z)-3-decenyl hexanoate or HP extract restored male courtship success. To our knowledge, (Z)-3-decenyl hexanoate has not been previously reported as a sex pheromone component in any insect species, making this discovery an intriguing addition to the diversity of chemical communication in insects.</p>}},
author = {{Sánchez-Aros, Laura and Queiroz, Abel F.O. and Guajardo, Jorge and Barros-Parada, Wilson and Svensson, Glenn P. and Bergmann, Jan}},
issn = {{2075-4450}},
keywords = {{(Z)-3-decenyl hexanoate; Leucoptera sinuella; male pheromone; mating behavior}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{MDPI AG}},
series = {{Insects}},
title = {{Characterization of a Novel Male Pheromone Compound in Leucoptera sinuella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) and Its Role in Courtship Behavior}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects16010032}},
doi = {{10.3390/insects16010032}},
volume = {{16}},
year = {{2025}},
}