Abstract
Males of several sphecid wasps apply volatile secretion on specific sites, perches. The odor is supposed to act in premating behavior as an attracting pheromone. There are strong indications that the scenting material is produced by the mandibular glands. One philanthine species,Philanthus triangulum, and three nyssonine ones,Argogorytes fargei, A. mystaceus, andNysson spinosus, the latter cleptoparasite onArgogorytes wasps, have been analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major compound in the mandibular gland secretion of the four species was tentatively identified as 2,5-dimethyl-3-isopentylpyrazine. A few other pyrazines not yet identified were also found. Preliminary tests withP. triangulum show that alkylpyrazines influence male behavior.
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Borg-Karlson, A.K., Tengö, J. Pyrazines as marking volatiles in philanthine and nyssonine wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). J Chem Ecol 6, 827–835 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00990406
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00990406