Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1991 Oct 15;88(20):9224-7.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.20.9224.

Pheromonal advertisement of a nuptial gift by a male moth (Utetheisa ornatrix)

D E Dussourd  1 , C A Harvis, J Meinwald, T Eisner
Affiliations

Pheromonal advertisement of a nuptial gift by a male moth (Utetheisa ornatrix)

D E Dussourd et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. .

Abstract

Male Utetheisa ornatrix produce a courtship pheromone (hydroxydanaidal) that they derive from systemic pyrrolizidine alkaloid of plant origin. Pheromone titers in males correlate with systemic levels of alkaloid and with the quantity of alkaloid transmitted to the female at mating. The male's emission of pheromone during courtship may therefore communicate his possession of protective alkaloids and his capacity to provision the female. By mating preferentially with males endowed with hydroxydanaidal, females may ensure their acquisition of an alkaloidal gift for use in egg defense.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Exp Biol. 1986;46(1):11-27 - PubMed
    1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991 Sep 15;88(18):8194-7 - PubMed
    1. Experientia. 1989 Sep 15;45(9):896-8 - PubMed
    1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1988 Aug;85(16):5992-6 - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources