A female-emitted pheromone component is associated with reduced male courtship in the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius
During courtship interactions, the courted individual may not always be prepared to mate. For example, mating or courtship may be detrimental to its fitness and resistance is expected under these circumstances. As such, various resistance strategies have evolved, from physically fending off courting...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science
2013
|
| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2508/ |
| _version_ | 1848790802705154048 |
|---|---|
| author | Mowles, Sophie L. King, Bethia H. Linforth, Robert S.T. Hardy, Ian C.W. |
| author_facet | Mowles, Sophie L. King, Bethia H. Linforth, Robert S.T. Hardy, Ian C.W. |
| author_sort | Mowles, Sophie L. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | During courtship interactions, the courted individual may not always be prepared to mate. For example, mating or courtship may be detrimental to its fitness and resistance is expected under these circumstances. As such, various resistance strategies have evolved, from physically fending off courting individuals to producing behavioural signals of unreceptivity. In the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius, females rarely re-mate and mated females are avoided by males in favour of virgin females. Further, mated females appear to advertise their mating status by the release of a pheromone component (methyl 6-methylsalicylate), but direct evidence of the nature of this release is lacking. Here we used real-time chemical analysis to track the emission of the pheromone component during courtship interactions between virgin males and either virgin or mated females. We found that females actively release methyl 6-methylsalicylate when courted and that significantly greater concentrations are released by previously mated females. Further, high concentrations of this component are associated with both the prevention and termination of courtship. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T18:18:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-2508 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T18:18:24Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-25082020-05-04T16:39:45Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2508/ A female-emitted pheromone component is associated with reduced male courtship in the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius Mowles, Sophie L. King, Bethia H. Linforth, Robert S.T. Hardy, Ian C.W. During courtship interactions, the courted individual may not always be prepared to mate. For example, mating or courtship may be detrimental to its fitness and resistance is expected under these circumstances. As such, various resistance strategies have evolved, from physically fending off courting individuals to producing behavioural signals of unreceptivity. In the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius, females rarely re-mate and mated females are avoided by males in favour of virgin females. Further, mated females appear to advertise their mating status by the release of a pheromone component (methyl 6-methylsalicylate), but direct evidence of the nature of this release is lacking. Here we used real-time chemical analysis to track the emission of the pheromone component during courtship interactions between virgin males and either virgin or mated females. We found that females actively release methyl 6-methylsalicylate when courted and that significantly greater concentrations are released by previously mated females. Further, high concentrations of this component are associated with both the prevention and termination of courtship. Public Library of Science 2013-11-20 Article PeerReviewed Mowles, Sophie L., King, Bethia H., Linforth, Robert S.T. and Hardy, Ian C.W. (2013) A female-emitted pheromone component is associated with reduced male courtship in the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius. PLoS ONE, 8 (11). e82010/1-e82010/8. ISSN 1932-6203 http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0082010 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0082010 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0082010 |
| spellingShingle | Mowles, Sophie L. King, Bethia H. Linforth, Robert S.T. Hardy, Ian C.W. A female-emitted pheromone component is associated with reduced male courtship in the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius |
| title | A female-emitted pheromone component is associated
with reduced male courtship in the parasitoid wasp
Spalangia endius |
| title_full | A female-emitted pheromone component is associated
with reduced male courtship in the parasitoid wasp
Spalangia endius |
| title_fullStr | A female-emitted pheromone component is associated
with reduced male courtship in the parasitoid wasp
Spalangia endius |
| title_full_unstemmed | A female-emitted pheromone component is associated
with reduced male courtship in the parasitoid wasp
Spalangia endius |
| title_short | A female-emitted pheromone component is associated
with reduced male courtship in the parasitoid wasp
Spalangia endius |
| title_sort | female-emitted pheromone component is associated
with reduced male courtship in the parasitoid wasp
spalangia endius |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2508/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2508/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/2508/ |