Pheromone chemistry and reproductive isolation in the subfamily Lamiinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Research on the chemical ecology of cerambycid beetles has revealed that the pheromone chemistry of related species is often highly conserved. Sympatric species often share pheromone components, even having identical attractant pheromones. For example, many cerambycines native to different continents use pheromones composed of hydroxyalkanones and related alkanediols. Avoidance mechanisms of interspecific attraction in cerambycines that share pheromone components include segregation by seasonal and diel phenology and synergism and antagonism by minor pheromone components. Less is known about the pheromone chemistry of cerambycid species in the largest subfamily, the Lamiinae. As with the cerambycines, all known pheromones of lamiines are male-produced aggregation-sex pheromones, and pheromone chemistry has been conserved across continents. Lamiine pheromones identified to date are based on either hydroxyethers or terpenoids. The purpose of my dissertation research is to broaden the current understanding of pheromone chemistry in lamiines and to elucidate chemical mechanisms of reproductive isolation among sympatric species that share pheromone components. In Chapter 1, I summarize what is known about the pheromone chemistry of cerambycids, with emphasis on the subfamily Lamiinae. In Chapter 2, I identify the pheromone composition for two species of lamiines common in East-Central Illinois. I demonstrate that reproductive isolation is achieved by through differences in stereochemistry, as well as the phenomenon of enantiomeric synergism, which is rare among insects. In Chapter 3, I present data confirming the pheromone composition for four species, as well as a third pheromone component for a species for which a pheromone was already identified, and tentative pheromone identifications for one additional species. In Chapter 4, I identify pheromones for two species and a tentative pheromone for one additional species, thereby providing evidence for a third class of pheromone compounds in lamiines that is based on sulcatone.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Entomology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2018

Author dc:creator

• Meier, Linnea R

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hanks, Lawrence M.
• Berenbaum, May
• Suarez, Andrew
• Allan, Brian

• cerambycidae
• lamiinae
• pheromone

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2018 Linnea Meier

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/100971

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/100971