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. 1991 Mar 15;47(3):296-9.
doi: 10.1007/BF01958165.

Sexual dimorphism in the defensive secretion of a carabid beetle

A B Attygalle  1 , J Meinwald, J K Liebherr, T Eisner
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Sexual dimorphism in the defensive secretion of a carabid beetle

A B Attygalle et al. Experientia. .

Abstract

The defensive secretions of male and female Oodes americanus display striking qualitative differences. Altogether 13 carboxylic acids were identified in the secretions of the two sexes. Methacrylic, crotonic, and tiglic acids are produced exclusively by the female; the male lacks these unsaturated components, but produces their saturated analogs. 2-Methylbutyric acid is a major component produced by both sexes. Shared components also include hexanoic, (E)-2-hexenoic, benzoic, and (E)-2-octenoic acid, of which the latter two had not previously been reported from carabid beetles.

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References

    1. J Chem Ecol. 1989 Jun;15(6):1689-97 - PubMed
    1. Naturwissenschaften. 1968 Mar;55(3):112-7 - PubMed

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