Male Moth Songs Tempt Females to Accept Mating: The Role of Acoustic and Pheromonal Communication in the Reproductive Behaviour of Aphomia sociella

Members of the subfamily Galleriinae have adapted to different selective environmental pressures by devising a unique mating process. Galleriinae males initiate mating by attracting females with either chemical or acoustic signals (or a combination of both modalities). Six compounds considered candidates for the sex pheromone have recently been identified in the wing gland extracts of Aphomia sociella males. Prior to the present study, acoustic communication had not been investigated. Signals mediating female attraction were likewise unknown.Observations of A. sociella mating behaviour and recordings of male acoustic signals confirmed that males initiate the mating process. During calling behaviour (stationary wing fanning and pheromone release), males disperse pheromone from their wing glands. When a female approaches, males cease calling and begin to produce ultrasonic songs as part of the courtship behaviour. Replaying of recorded courting songs to virgin females and a comparison of the mating efficiency of intact males with males lacking tegullae proved that male ultrasonic signals stimulate females to accept mating. Greenhouse experiments with isolated pheromone glands confirmed that the male sex pheromone mediates long-range female attraction.Female attraction in A. sociella is chemically mediated, but ultrasonic communication is also employed during courtship. Male ultrasonic songs stimulate female sexual display and significantly affect mating efficiency. Considerable inter-individual differences in song structure exist. These could play a role in female mate selection provided that the female's ear is able to discern them. The A. sociella mating strategy described above is unique within the subfamily Galleriinae

Brain processing of physiologicaly important olfactory signals in insects

The lecture provides basic insight into the mechanism of brain processing of pheromonal and non-pheromonal odours in insects

Project teaching in art education on primary school - "Meadow"

Title: Project teaching in art education on primary school - "Meadow" Author: Blanka Kalinová Department: Art Education Department Supervisor: Mgr. Linda Arbanová, Ph.D. Abstract: In this bachelor work the author applies herself to the project teaching of Art lessons. She prioritizes two main educational aims. She chooses a topic and prepares "The Meadow" project. She is succesful at its realization. This theme is enough rich in the impulses for visual work in Art lessons and it infuses well the other subjects. The author makes the project on the base of the School Education Programme for the second year. Her choice of graphic technologies goes with it - drawing, painting, collage, frottage, muchlage, making plastics, objects etc. The whole project consists of eight parts. Each one of them contains a different graphic problem. The description of all graphic activities are completed with the visual documentation, the pupil's reflection and the author's own as well. In the ending of her work she compares the development of children's personality in the class with the growing plants on the meadow. Keywords: Project - meadow - art work - primary school - experiential learning

Stereochemistry of two pheromonal components of the bumblebee wax moth, Aphomia sociella

The bumblebee wax moth, Aphomia sociella, is a parasite of bumblebees. In this species, males produce sexual pheromone to attract females, while females produce an aphrodisiac pheromone that initiates male courtship. Both pheromones contain 6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-one (TMPD-one) and the corresponding alcohol, 6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-ol (TMPD-ol) in sex specific quantities. Male sex pheromone consists of 7 components with TMPD-one as a minor one and traces of TMPD-ol. In female aphrodisiac pheromone, TMPD-ol is the major component, while TMPD-one is present in traces. Here we report on the absolute configuration of TMPD-one in male sex pheromone and TMPD-ol in female aphrodisiac pheromone of A. sociella. The configuration was determined from GC/MS of prepared (S)-acetoxypropionyl esters of TMPD-ol. TMPD-one was first reduced to the alcohol that was then derivatized with (S)-acetoxypropionyl chloride. The GC/MS data of obtained diastereoisomers were compared with synthetic standards. The absolute configuration of TMPD-one in the male pheromone was (6R,10R). The configuration of TMPD-ol in the female pheromone was (2R,6R,10R). Electrophysiological experiments showed that TMPD-one and TMPD-ol are perceived by both sexes. The synthetic standards of naturally produced stereoisomers elicited higher responses than mixtures of all stereoisomers. We are grateful to J. Titzenthalerová for her skillful assistance in electrophysiological experiments and to R. Hanus for his help with statistical evaluations of the EAG recordings. This work was financially supported by the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic (grant No. LD15102). The research was done within the frames of the COST Action Super-B (FA1307). EW and EH are thankful for the funding from ERUF (European regional developmental fund), the region of Jämtland/Härjedalen and the region of Västernorrland.</p

Analyses of volatiles produced by the African fruit fly species complex (Diptera, Tephritidae)

Ceratitis fasciventris, Ceratitis anonae and Ceratitis rosa are polyphagous agricultural pests originating from the African continent. The taxonomy of this group (the so-called Ceratitis FAR complex) is unclear. To clarify the taxonomic relationships, male and female-produced volatiles presumably involved in pre-mating communication were studied using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS) followed by multivariate analysis, and gas chromatography combined with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). GC×GC-TOFMS analyses revealed sex specific differences in produced volatiles. Male volatiles are complex mixtures that differ both qualitatively and quantitatively but share some common compounds. GC-EAD analyses of male volatiles revealed that the antennal sensitivities of females significantly differ in the studied species. No female volatiles elicited antennal responses in males. The results show clear species-specific differences in volatile production and provide complementary information for the distinct delimitation of the putative species by chemotaxonomic markers

MFA of transformed GC×GC/MS data of 59 compounds identified in five <i>Bactrocera</i> entities.

<p>M = male, F = female, DOR = <i>B</i>. <i>dorsalis</i>, CAR = <i>B</i>. <i>carambolae</i>, INV = <i>B</i>. ‘syn. <i>invadens</i>’, PAP = <i>B</i>. ‘syn. <i>papayae</i>’, PHI = <i>B</i>. ‘syn. <i>philippinensis</i>’. (A) Score plot describing the species and chemical class modalities of the first two factors, (B) projection of variables onto the plane defined by the first two principal components of the MFA. The coordinates for each variable are the correlation coefficients with the two first principal components (red Ac01–03 = fatty acid, blue Al01–02 = aldehyde, violet CH01–32 = cuticular hydrocarbon, green E01–22 = fatty acid ester). The compounds are assigned according to <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0184102#pone.0184102.s001" target="_blank">S1 Table</a>.</p

Two-dimensional chromatogram of GC×GC/MS analysis of <i>Bactrocera dorsalis</i> and <i>B</i>. <i>carambolae</i> cuticular profiles.

<p>Cuticular profiles of <i>B</i>. <i>carambolae</i> female (A) and male (B) and of <i>B</i>. <i>dorsalis</i> female (C), male (D). Intensity of the signals is colour coded from blue (zero) to red (maximum). The compounds are assigned according to <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0184102#pone.0184102.s001" target="_blank">S1 Table</a>.</p

Epicuticular chemistry reinforces the new taxonomic classification of the <i>Bactrocera dorsalis</i> species complex (Diptera: Tephritidae, Dacinae)

<div><p><i>Bactrocera invadens</i> Drew, Tsuruta & White, <i>Bactrocera papayae</i> Drew & Hancock, and <i>Bactrocera philippinensis</i> Drew & Hancock, key pest species within the <i>Bactrocera dorsalis</i> species complex, have been recently synonymized under the name <i>Bactrocera dorsalis</i> (Hendel). The closely related <i>Bactrocera carambolae</i> Drew & Hancock remains as a discrete taxonomic entity. Although the synonymizations have been accepted by most researchers, debate about the species limits remains. Because of the economic importance of this group of taxa, any new information available to support or deny the synonymizations is valuable. We investigated the chemical epicuticle composition of males and females of <i>B</i>. <i>dorsalis</i>, <i>B</i>. <i>invadens</i>, <i>B</i>. <i>papayae</i>, <i>B</i>. <i>philippinensis</i>, and <i>B</i>. <i>carambolae</i> by means of one- and two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, followed by multiple factor analyses and principal component analysis. Clear segregation of complex cuticule profiles of both <i>B</i>. <i>carambolae</i> sexes from <i>B</i>. <i>dorsalis</i> (Hendel) was observed. In addition to cuticular hydrocarbons, abundant complex mixtures of sex-specific oxygenated lipids (three fatty acids and 22 fatty acid esters) with so far unknown function were identified in epicuticle extracts from females of all species. The data obtained supports both taxonomic synonymization of <i>B</i>. <i>invadens</i>, <i>B</i>. <i>papayae</i>, and <i>B</i>. <i>philippinensis</i> with <i>B</i>. <i>dorsalis</i>, as well as the exclusion of <i>B</i>. <i>carambolae</i> from <i>B</i>. <i>dorsalis</i>.</p></div