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Male Pheromones Influence the Mating Behavior of Echinothrips americanus

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Abstract

Two dibasic esters, the dimethyl ester of hexanedioic acid (dimethyl adipate, DBE-6) and the dimethyl ester of pentanedioic acid (dimethyl glutarate, DBE-5) were found in head-thorax extracts of male Echinothrips americanus. DBE-5 induced abdomen wagging and raising in males and females, which is typically exhibited when encountering a male. DBE-6 was avoided by males and was detected on mated, but not on virgin, females. Both substances applied to virgin females lead to females being ignored by males. The role of both substances is discussed with regard to the male mating system.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the University of Halle-Wittenberg. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. We gratefully acknowledge William Kirk, Keele University, Staffordshire, and two unknown reviewers for discussion, comments, and valuable information.

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  1. Faculty of Natural Sciences I, Institute of Biology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Heinrich-Damerow-Str. 4, 06120, Halle, Germany

    Stephanie Krueger, Gerald Moritz, Diana Radisch & Gunther Tschuch

  2. Faculty of Natural Sciences I, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle, Germany

    Peter Lindemann

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  1. Stephanie Krueger
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Correspondence to Gunther Tschuch.

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Krueger, S., Moritz, G., Lindemann, P. et al. Male Pheromones Influence the Mating Behavior of Echinothrips americanus . J Chem Ecol 42, 294–299 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-016-0685-z

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