Beyond cuticular hydrocarbons: evidence of proteinaceous secretion specific to termite kings and queens

摘要: In 1959, P. Karlson and M. Luscher introduced the term ‘pheromone’, broadly used nowadays for various chemicals involved in intraspecific communication. To demonstrate term, they depicted situation termite societies, where king queen inhibit reproduction of nest-mates by an unknown chemical substance. Paradoxically, half a century later, neither source nor identity this ‘royal’ pheromone is known. study, we report first time secretion polar compounds proteinaceous origin functional reproductives three species, Prorhinotermes simplex, Reticulitermes santonensis Kalotermes flavicollis. Aqueous washes contained sex-specific compounds, virtually absent non-reproducing stages. Moreover, presence these was clearly correlated with age their reproductive status. We discuss putative function substances caste recognition regulation.