Open AccessIndividual variation in bark beetle and moth pheromones ‐ a comparison and an evolutionary background
Author(s) -
Schlyter Fredrik,
Birgersson Göran
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1989.tb00923.x
Subject(s) - pheromone , sex pheromone , lepidoptera genitalia , biology , variation (astronomy) , bark (sound) , mating , bark beetle , ecology , taxon , mating disruption , zoology , botany , physics , astrophysics
The presently published data of variation in pheromone content in bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and moths (Lepidoptera) are reviewed. In both taxa high coefficients of variation, often up to around 100% for amount of pheromone, seem to be the rule. The contribution to the variation from errors in the chemical methods was small in most studies compared with the intrinsic biological variation. Examples arc given of variation in both absolute amounts, proportions of geometric isomers and in enantiomeric composition. Ratios of isomers often had lower coefficients of variation (25% or less). A lower average variation among sex pheromone in moths could relate to a mating system involving singly calling females, compared with the aggregation pheromone of bark beetles, which often call in large groups. The origin of a resource‐based aggregation pheromone system by evolution working via individual selection is outlined.