Abstract
Males and females ofCryptocercus punctulatus possess tergal glands, but they differ in position, size, morphology, and secretion chemistry. Compound A (linalyl acetate) is the most abundant of the 21 compounds found only in the secretion of these glands. Compound B, 4,6,8-trimethyl-7,9-undecadien-5-ol, is specific to the tergal secretion of females.C. punctulatus lives only in the United States; its distribution is disjunct. Compound A is found in samples from the eastern population but is absent in samples from the western population. The amount of compound B per gland in samples from the western population is at least twice as high as in the samples from the eastern populations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ampion, M., andQuennedey, A. 1980. The abdominal epidermal glands of termites and their phylogenic significance, pp. 243–261,in P.E. Howse and J.L. Clement (eds.). Biosystematics of Social Insects. Academic Press, New York.
Blum, M.S. 1981. Chemical Defenses of Arthropods. Academic Press, New York. 562 pp.
Bolton, H.T., Butler, J.F., andCarlson, D.A. 1980. A mating stimulant pheromone of the horn fly,Haematobia irritans (L): Demonstration of biological activity in separated cuticular components.J. Chem. Ecol. 6:951–964.
Brian, Z., Fales, H.M., Blum, M.S., Jones, T.P., Rinderer, T.E., andHoward, D.F. 1984. Chemistry of cephalic secretion of fire beeTrigona (Oxytrigona) tataira.J. Chem. Ecol. 10:451–461.
Brossut, R. 1979. Gregarism in cockroaches and inEublaberus in particular, pp. 237–246,in F.J. Ritter (ed.). Chemical Ecology: Odour Communication in Animals. Elsevier/North Holland, Amsterdam.
Brossut, R., andRoth, L.M. 1977. Tergal modifications associated with abdominal glandular cells in the Blattaria.J. Morphol. 151:259–298.
Brossut, R., Dubois, P., andRigaud, J. 1974. Le grégarisme chezBlaberus craniifer: Isolement et identification de la phéromone.J. Insect. Physiol. 20:529–543.
Brossut, R., Dubois, P., Rigaud, J., andSreng, L. 1975. Etude biochimique de la sécrétion des glandes tergales des Blattaria.Insect Biochem. 5:719–732.
Cleveland, L.R., Hall, S.R., Sanders, E.P., andCollier, J. 1934. The woodfeeding roachCryptocercus, its protozoa, and the symbiosis between protozoa and roach.Mem. Am. Acad. Arts Sci. 17:185–342.
Everaerts, C., Pasteels, J.M., Roisin, Y., andBonnard, O. 1988. The monoterpenoid fraction of the defensive secretion in Nasutitermitinae from Papua New Guinea.Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 4:437–444.
Farine, J.P., Brossut, R., andNalepa, C.A. 1989. Morphology of the male and female tergal glands of the woodroachCryptocercus punctulatus (Insecta: Dictyptera).Zoomorphology 109:153–164.
Grassé, P.P. 1982. Termitologia, Tome I. Masson, Paris.
Grassé, P.P. 1984. Termitologia, Tome II. Masson, Paris.
Hefetz, A., Eickwort, G.C., Blum, M.S., Cane, J., andBohart, G.E. 1982. A comparative study of the exocrine products of cleptoparasitic bees (Holcopasites) and their hosts (Calliopsis) (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae, Andrenidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 8:1389–1397.
Hefetz, A., Bergström, G., andTengo, J. 1986. Species, individual and kin specific blend in Dufour's gland secretions of halictine bees. Chemical evidence.J. Chem. Ecol. 12:197–208.
Inscoe, M.N. 1984. Insect attractants, attractant pheromones and related compounds, pp. 201–295,in A.F. Kydonieus, M. Beroza, G. Zweig (eds.). Insect Suppression with Controlled Release Pheromone Systems, Vol. 2. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
Kostlec, J.G., Girard, J.E., andHendry, L.B. 1980. Isolation and identification of a sex attractant of a mushroom-infesting sciarid fly.J. Chem. Ecol. 6:1–12.
Lehrer, C.A. 1979. Intraspecific attraction in the wood roachCryptocercus punctulatus Scudder. Thesis. Winston-Salem, North Carolina State University.
Le Quéré, J.L., Brossut, R., Nalepa, C.A., andBonnard, O. 1991. Isolation and identification of the female specific compound in the tergal gland secretion ofCryptocercus punctulatus (Dictyoptera, Cryptocercidae): 4,6,8-trirnethyl-7,9-undecadien-5-ol.J. Chem. Ecol. 17:811–821.
Lofquist, J., andBergström, G. 1980. Volatile communication substances in Dufour's gland of virgin females and old queens of the antFormica polyctena.J. Chem. Ecol. 6:309–320.
Nalepa, C.A. 1984. Colony composition, protozoan transfer and some life history characteristics of the woodroachCryptocercus punctulatus (Dictyoptera, Cryptocercidae).Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 14:273–279.
Parton, A.H., Howse, P.E., Baker, R., andClément, J.L. 1981. Variation in the chemistry of the frontal gland secretion of EuropeanReticulitermes species, pp. 183–209,in P.E. Howse and J.L. Clément (eds.). Biosystematics of Social Insects. Academic Press, London.
Roth, L.M. 1969. The evolution of male tergal glands in the Blattaria.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 62:176–208.
Seelinger, G., andSeelinger, U. 1983. On the social organization, alarm and fighting in the primitive cockroachCryptocercus punctulatus.Z. Tierpsychol. 61:315–333.
Tengö, J., andBergström, G. 1975. All-trans-farnesyl hexanoate and geranyl octanoate in the dufour gland secretion ofAndrena (Hymenoptera: Apidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 1:253–268.
Uebel, E.G., Sonnet, P.E., Bierl, B.A., andMiller, R.W. 1975. Sex pheromone of the stable fly: Isolation and preliminary identification of compounds that induce mating strike behavior.J. Chem. Ecol. 1:377–385.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brossut, R., Nalepa, C.A., Bonnard, O. et al. Tergal glands of male and femaleCryptocercus punctulatus scudder (Dictyoptera: Cryptocercidae): Composition, sexual dimorphism, and geographic variation of secretion. J Chem Ecol 17, 823–831 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01395593
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01395593