Tergal Gland Secretion Of The Rove Beetlealeochara Pseudochrysorrhoa(Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae): Chemical Composition And Biological Roles

Aleochara pseudochrysorrhoahas a glandular complex known as the tergal gland. Generally, the tergal gland secretion (TGS) has been described to have defensive function, but some reports point to a possible secondary function of this complex. For example, the TGS of the related speciesA. curtulahas been demonstrated to possess an important role in intraspecies communication. In this work, we describe the chemical composition of the TGS ofA. pseudochrysorrhoamales and females. Eleven compounds were identified based on GC/MS and GC-FT-IR analyses, retention indexes and derivatization products. Furthermore, a brief study regarding the biological function of the TGS in mating behavior is provided, in which the stimulation of male grasping response reaction by female TGS proved to be dependent on concentration.