(Z,E,E)-DODECATRIEN-1-OL - A MINOR COMPONENT OF TRAIL PHEROMONE OF TERMITE, COPTOTERMES-FORMOSANUS SHIRAKI

In the course of the elucidation of the primary structure of an isolat ed trail pheromone from C. formosanus, a minor component that had the same molecular weight as the major trail pheromone, (Z,Z,E)-3,6,8-dode catrien-1-ol [(Z,Z,E)-DTE-OH], was detected in the mass chromatogram o f mlz 180 of capillary CG-MS. The mass spectrum of the minor component showed a prominent pattern of dodecatrien-1-ol. Chemical analysis dem onstrated that the complete structure was (Z,E,E)-DTE-OH. Furthermore, capillary GC-MS-HR-SIM analysis indicated that the component existed only in the workers of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and was not pres ent in workers of Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe). This minor componen t may be a species-specific factor of C. formosanus, although this was not suggested by a two-choice bioassay.