Tabata, J., & Yasui, H. 2022 Sex Pheromone of the Azalea Mealybug With a Non‑Terpene Structure. Journal of Chemical Ecology doi.org/10.1007/s10886-022-01376-0

Keywords:

  • chemical
  • reproduction
  • Notes: More than 20 mealybug pheromones are reported to be monoterpenes in general, with only one exception, a hemiterpene alcohol esterified with a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA), found in the Matsumoto mealybug, Crisicoccus matsumotoi.. However, it is unknown whether this is truly exceptional, or if similar compounds are used in other related mealybugs. In this study, we isolated and characterized the pheromone of an allied species, the azalea mealybug C. azaleae. This study implies irregular events for the divergence of pheromone structures in ancestors of the genus Crisicoccus and other mealybugs.