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. 2006 Aug;32(8):1849-53.
doi: 10.1007/s10886-006-9094-z. Epub 2006 Jun 7.

Insect pheromones and precursors in female African elephant urine

Thomas E Goodwin  1 , Mindy S Eggert, Sam J House, Margaret E Weddell, Bruce A Schulte, L E L Rasmussen
Affiliations

Insect pheromones and precursors in female African elephant urine

Thomas E Goodwin et al. J Chem Ecol. 2006 Aug.

Abstract

Using automated solid-phase dynamic extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, our search for urinary chemical signals from ovulatory female African elephants (Loxodonta africana) has revealed the bark beetle aggregation pheromones frontalin, exo-brevicomin, and endo-brevicomin, as well as their precursors and the aphid alarm pheromones (E,E)-alpha-farnesene and (E)-beta-farnesene. Enantiomeric ratios for brevicomins have been determined. Prior discovery of common insect/elephant pheromones in Asian elephants, namely, (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate and frontalin, suggests that the present findings may yield valuable insights into chemical communication among African elephants.

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