CHEMICAL ECOLOGY OF ASTIGMATID MITES .41. UNDECANE - THE SEX-PHEROMONE OF THE ACARID MITE CALOGLYPHUS-RODRIGUEZI SAMSINAK (ACARINA, ACARIDAE)

The female sex pheromone of the acarid mite Caloglyphus rodriguezi was identified as undecane (C-11), which functioned to sexually stimulate males to mount females. The compound was detected from both sexes of adults as a major component by gas liquid chromatography (GLC), while it occurred as a minor component in the nymphal stages. Its contents were estimated to be 14.2 +/- 3.1 ng per female, 2.9 +/- 0.6 ng per male and 0.066 +/- 0.01 ng per nymph, respectively. Sexually excited behavior of males was demonstrated by exposing them to a 1-10 ng dose of C-11, whereas escaping behavior was provoked upon exposure to a 100 ng dose. We concluded that the male's quick response towards a female was attributed to sexual differences of C-11 content.