Pheromone communication in the model organism Nasonia vitripennis

宝石蜂Nasonia vitripennis是寄生蜂生物学的模式生物。信息素参与了该物种不同层次的性交流。雄性在直肠中产生（4 R，5 R）-和（4/？，5S）-5-羟基-4-癸内酯（HDL）和4-甲基喹唑啉，这对处女女性具有高度吸引力。然而，在交配后，雌性不再对雄性的气味有反应。目前的拨款建议将调查的机制和行为的信息素释放的背景下，以及假定的功能HDL作为一种配偶评估信息素，使precopulatory女性择偶。此外，还将研究交配雌性动物嗅觉开关的机制。在求偶期，N.丽翅虫雄性从口腺释放另一种信息素，引起雌性感受性。造成这一现象的化学物质有待查明。寄生蜂信息素通讯是化学生态学研究中一个被忽视的课题。通过补充我们对纳索尼亚模型中复杂化学通讯的知识，本拨款提案可能有助于全面了解性信息素在整个分类群中的作用。

The jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is a model organism of parasitic wasp biology. Pheromones are involved at different levels of sexual communication in this species. Males produce in the rectum a mixture of (4R,5R)- and (4/?,5S)-5-hydroxy-4- decanolides (HDL) and 4-methylquinazoline which is highly attractive for virgin females. After mating, however, females do no longer respond to the male odour. The present grant proposal will investigate the mechanism and behavioural context of pheromone release as well as the putative function of HDL as a mate assessment pheromone enabling precopulatory female mate choice. Furthermore, the mechanisms involved in the olfactory switch of mated females will be studied. During courtship, N. vitripennis males release another pheromone from an oral gland eliciting female receptivity. The chemicals responsible for this phenomenon are to be identified. Pheromone communication of parasitic Hymenoptera is a hitherto neglected topic of chemoecological research. By complementing our knowledge of the complex chemical communication in the Nasonia model, the present grant proposal Is likely to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the role of sex pheromones in the whole taxon.