(Z)-dodec-3-en-1-ol, a novel termite trail pheromone identified after solid phase microextraction from Macrotermes annandalei

(Z)-dodec-3-en-1-ol was isolated and identified by GC-MS as the major compo nent of the trail-following pheromone from whole body and sternal gland ext racts of workers of the fungus-growing termite, Macrotermes annandalei (Sil vestri) (Termitidae, Macrotermitinae). For the first time, this trail phero mone was also identified by using solid phase microextraction from the surf ace of the secretory sternal gland of workers. Bioassays showed that synthe tic dodecenol induced both orientation and recruitment behavioral effects. The activity threshold of (Z)-dodec-3-en-1-ol in eliciting trail-following is similar to that of (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodeca-3,6,8-trien-1-ol in the Rhinotermit idae, but amounts of dodecenol secreted are 100 times higher than those of dodecatrienol. There is about 1 ng of (Z)-dodec-3-en-1-ol per worker. Artif icial trails made of synthetic dodecenol are able to compete with natural t rails in the field. The activity duration of synthetic (Z)-dodec-3-en-1-ol trails is shorter than that of trails made from whole sternal secretion of workers. Observations showed that (Z)-dodec-3-en-1-ol is probably the only major component of the trail-following pheromone of M. annandalei and that it could be associated with other compounds in a pheromonal blend providing specificity and/or stability to trails. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.