The chemistry of sexual deception in an orchid-wasp pollination system

Science. 2003 Oct 17;302(5644):437-8. doi: 10.1126/science.1087835.

Abstract

The "sexually deceptive" orchid Chiloglottis trapeziformis attracts males of its pollinator species, the thynnine wasp Neozeleboria cryptoides, by emitting a unique volatile compound, 2-ethyl-5-propylcyclohexan-1,3-dione, which is also produced by female wasps as a male-attracting sex pheromone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cyclohexanones / chemistry
  • Cyclohexanones / isolation & purification
  • Cyclohexanones / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Flowers / metabolism
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Male
  • Molecular Structure
  • Odorants
  • Orchidaceae / metabolism*
  • Pollen*
  • Sex Attractants / chemistry
  • Sex Attractants / isolation & purification
  • Sex Attractants / metabolism*
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Wasps / physiology*

Substances

  • 2-ethyl-5-propylcyclohexan-1,3-dione
  • Cyclohexanones
  • Sex Attractants