Roles of Hydrocarbons in the Recognition Systems of Insects

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. Many bioassays have shown that cuticular hydrocarbons are used in the recognition systems of both solitary and social insects. The function of insect recognition systems is to enable an insect to recognize, and possibly discriminate, its own species, sex, or kin from that of other insects. The primary function of cuticular hydrocarbons is to protect the insects from desiccation. Hydrocarbons can be removed from insect cuticles and characterized with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Studies using such analytical techniques have revealed that insect hydrocarbon compositions are species-specific, sex-specific and, in social insects, colony- and caste-specific. Furthermore, recognition bioassays have confirmed that certain components of the cuticle of some insect species are sex attractants as well as aphrodisiacs or sex inhibitors. Other bioassays have shown that hydrocarbons are important in facilitating colony structure in social insects. In addition, the hydrocarbons of some parasitic insects appear to mimic those of their host species. Thus, hydrocarbons are proving to be very important in the everyday activities of many insect species.