Articles tagged with Pheromones
Scientists at ISCA, Inc. and their collaborators have successfully grown insect sex pheromone precursors in genetically modified camelina plants, creating a low-cost source of pheromones needed for sustainable pest control. The transgenic plants produce insect pheromone precursor compounds in their abundant seed oil.
Researchers have discovered how rodent ancestors created pheromone genes by combining portions of blood and venom genes. This process, known as genetic tinkering, may lead to the identification of new pheromones and insights into their role in species communication.
Scientists at the Universities of Bath and Sussex have developed a new system that slowly releases ant pheromones to attract pests to an insecticide bait. This innovative approach aims to reduce pesticide spraying and minimize environmental damage.
Researchers found that filling homes with calming pheromones can reduce undesirable interactions between cats and dogs, such as dog chasing cat or barking at cat. Both Feliway Friends for cats and Adaptil for dogs showed positive effects on desirable behaviors like friendly greetings and relaxation in the same room.
Researchers discovered that a changing mating signal in Drosophila mojavensis can initiate speciation. Females from subspecies with lost pheromones prefer courtship song over scent when choosing mates.
Researchers found that male fruit flies adjust their scent sensitivity by altering a gene called fruitless in response to pheromone signals and social environment. This study may provide insights into treating sensory processing disorders like autism, as it reveals how organisms selectively tune into or block sensory input.
Researchers identified three compounds responsible for the sweet scent, which increased females' attraction during breeding season. The findings suggest that these compounds act as pheromones, potentially influencing mating success.
Researchers identified three key chemicals used by male lemurs for attracting females, which are linked to testosterone levels. In contrast, when females were presented with these individual odors or a neutral control, they showed no increased interest.
Researchers from National University of Singapore found that butterflies, including the bush brown butterfly Bicyclus anynana, can learn to prefer new odours and pass these preferences to their offspring. This challenge traditional views of inheritance of acquired traits in organisms.
Researchers discovered that the darcin pheromone triggers a complex response in the brain of female mice, driving both innate and learned sexual behaviors. The study mapped the neural circuitry responsible for processing the pheromone, revealing its role in integrating sensory information with an animal's internal state.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have developed a new tool to identify molecular receptors in Caenorhabditis elegans worms involved in sensing pheromones. This breakthrough could speed up neuroscience research into pheromones by streamlining the process and identifying specific receptors in just a month.
A £2.5 million project is helping scientists develop a new method to catch female sand flies carrying the Leishmaniasis parasite, reducing infection incidence by 50% in dogs. The lure-and-kill method uses male pheromones to attract females towards insecticide-treated areas.
A University of Córdoba research group has developed a system that can stop the development of Fusarium oxysporum, a pathogenic fungus affecting over 100 crops. The method exploits the fungus's use of autocrine pheromones to detect its own species and control its growth.
Researchers developed a new tracking method for urban rats using pheromones, revealing sex-specific scent preferences. This finding could aid in urban wildlife management and development of novel control tools, such as bait deployment or immuno-contraceptives.
Researchers discovered that burying beetle larvae respond to a specific pheromone emitted by their mothers to indicate feeding times. This allows the larvae to efficiently coordinate feeding and avoid unnecessary energy expenditure.
Researchers found that sea lampreys' bile acids produce as sex pheromones are less varied among mature males than larvae, suggesting sexual selection plays a role in their evolution. Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between pheromone diversity and mate preferences.
A recent study found that the Turkestan cockroach uses periplanones or similar substances as sex pheromones, exhibiting increased sensitivity compared to the American cockroach. This larger glomerulus enables more precise detection of tiny packets of pheromones.
Researchers identified a potent pheromone called spermine in the semen of sea lampreys that attracts only ovulatory female sea lampreys. The discovery may reveal a new mechanism for male animals to recruit mates through chemical cues in semen, potentially with implications for conservation and management of sea lamprey populations.
A study by researchers at Vetmeduni Vienna found that dominant male house mice produce higher levels of certain pheromones compared to subordinates. These pheromones are transported in the urine via major urinary proteins (MUPs) and bind to female reproductive physiology, making them more attractive to receptive females.
The study found that one pheromone operates strictly while the other is free to undergo diversification, a mechanism that may lead to reproductive isolation and speciation. This asymmetric system allows for flexible adaptation to mutational changes while maintaining recognition of mating partners.
Research by Harvard University's Catherine Dulac reveals that male mice engage in infanticide due to a combination of sensory cues, including the shape of pups and specific pheromone signals. These signals allow males to identify newborn infants and recognize their need for nurturing versus protection from attack.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo found that a substance in young mice's tears makes female mice more likely to reject male sexual advances. The study aims to develop a natural mouse birth control method by adding a specific pheromone molecule to drinking water, which could reduce mouse populations and alleviate pest control issues.
Unicellular diatoms demonstrate primitive behavioral biology by choosing between nutrient sources and mating partners. Researchers found that cells move towards pheromones or food depending on hunger level, influencing biofilm dynamics.
A newly identified gene, ancV1R, is found to be conserved across fish and mammals, suggesting an ancient origin for pheromone sensing. The discovery opens new avenues of research into the evolution and function of pheromone signaling in vertebrates.
Researchers observed 'antennal grabbing' behavior in three different cuckoo bee species in the genus Nomada, where males transfer pheromones during copulation. This phenomenon has been documented for the first time in this genus, shedding new light on the courtship and mating behaviors of these kleptoparasitic bees.
Virginia Tech researchers have discovered a way to develop environmentally friendly and sustainable pest controls using pheromones, which can be used to lure stink bugs away from cash crops. This could save farmers millions of dollars on pest control costs.
A European project aims to make pheromones an affordable alternative to conventional insecticides. Researchers are developing biotechnology-based pheromone production to reduce costs and environmental impact. The goal is to protect crops from pests like the fall armyworm, which poses a major threat to food security.
Researchers have identified a pheromone, a fatty acid derivative, that guides larval and adult sea lampreys to spawning grounds. The discovery holds potential for disrupting adult sea lampreys' reproduction, offering a new approach to controlling the invasive species.
A study conducted at Kruger park in South Africa found that honeybee pheromones safely repel elephants, showing promise for a safe elephant management tool. The pheromone-laden socks were effective in deterring elephants from approaching water holes, with 25 of 29 elephants moving away after getting close enough to smell the formulation.
Researchers found that evolutionary changes occur deep in the fly brain, in a small cluster of neurons controlling mating behavior. The study overturned long-held beliefs about how evolution ensures animals perpetuate their species.
Researchers have discovered that rat tear proteins can be detected in mice, triggering a defensive response in the rodents' brains. The proteins, produced by male rats, activate receptors in the mouse vomeronasal organ, prompting the animals to stop moving and drop their body temperature.
Researchers have found that a synthetic pheromone can lure beetles to concentrate on tamarisk bushes, doubling the die-back of the plants. This method is more precise and lower-cost than traditional methods like herbicides and mechanical removal.
Researchers have discovered biochemical mechanisms that help female beetles produce the aggregation pheromone trans-verbenol in response to juvenile hormone III. This finding may improve forecasting of bark beetle outbreaks by understanding how these insects communicate and colonize pine trees.
Researchers have identified a wax-like hydrocarbon called heneicosane as a royal recognition pheromone in termites, enabling workers to recognize and care for queens and kings. This discovery could upend current understanding of insect social behavior and evolution, suggesting that CHCs evolved as royal pheromones 150 million years ago.
Researchers discovered how male cockroaches locate a sexual mate by detecting fine structures of odor plumes, thanks to their antennae and neural circuits. They identified twelve key interneurons that convey spatial information to the brain, ensuring complete coverage over the entire flagellum.
Researchers have identified a pheromone from the Asian citrus psyllid that transmits citrus greening disease. The discovery enables the synthesis of the substance and use in traps to lure and kill the insect, reducing HLB incidence.
Female moths can increase their chances of attracting a mate by emitting sex pheromones in close proximity to attractive females. Attractive females also benefit from proximity to unattractive females, mating sooner than if searching alone or with other attractive females.
Entomologist Gia Aradottir from Rothamsted Research explores insect communication through chemical signals and sound-based interactions. Her experiments with aphids and parasitic wasps demonstrate the complex ways insects convey information to each other.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute discover that female flies become more receptive to courting males when they smell their favorite food. The study found that vinegar odor boosts the perception of a male sex pheromone, increasing the likelihood of mating.
ISCA Technologies received eight grants from the USDA to develop environmentally-friendly pest control products and improve crop yields. The company will use naturally occurring pheromones, yeast species, and drones to control damaging insect pests and promote healthier bees.
Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a solution to control Asian hornets by luring males with synthesized sex pheromones, providing a simple and reliable way to monitor and potentially reduce populations. The study's findings demonstrate the key role of pheromones in long-distance attraction for these invasive insects.
Biologists at Lund University discovered that the receptors for detecting plant odors in the leaf miner moth Eriocrania semipurpurella also sense female sex pheromones. This finding suggests that plant odorant receptors evolved into sex pheromone receptors in primitive species of moths.
Research at Queen Mary University of London found that odorant binding proteins encoded by social chromosome genes determine red fire ant colony structure. These proteins may play a role in the production or perception of pheromones, influencing queen recognition and society organization.
Researchers have developed several innovations to stop mosquito-borne diseases like malaria by exploiting their behavior and biology, including attracting and killing them before they suck blood or reproduce. These breakthroughs use pheromones and other attractants to manipulate mosquitoes without harming the environment.
Researchers have discovered that female fruit flies' pheromone signals can reveal the level of energy invested in egg production versus survival. This finding may have implications for understanding human mating and reproduction patterns.
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have identified specialized odorant receptors in social insects that detect cuticular hydrocarbon cues and candidate pheromones. The discovery provides new insight into the chemical communications systems used by eusocial insects, enabling workers to recognize queen and male ants.
Researchers found that healthy flies are attracted to the smell of infected ones, which produces more sex pheromones. This leads to increased dispersal of disease among fly populations.
Researchers identified pheromone receptors in a primitive moth species that also respond to plant volatiles, suggesting an evolutionary link between sex pheromones and plant odor detection.
Researchers genetically engineered ants to lack their sense of smell, finding they couldn't communicate, forage or compete for queen status. This discovery promises to advance understanding of social communication and its relation to human disorders like autism and depression.
A study on moths found that males with larger antennae are better at detecting female signals, suggesting females may prefer males who can respond to them effectively. This supports Darwin's theory of sexual selection and highlights the role of females in choosing mates.
Researchers have identified a unique pheromone in Indian jumping ant larvae that signals which larvae are likely to become queens. The discovery reveals how the colony ensures proper caste differentiation and highlights the importance of pheromones in social insect behaviors.
A study by Hokkaido University researchers found that grouping female American cockroaches promotes asexual egg production, with synchronized egg case delivery in synchrony. The females perceive female-specific chemosensory signals via their antennae, leading to increased fecundity and colony survival.
Researchers found that genetic variations controlling neuronal development explain male preferences, suggesting brain over nose plays a key role in mate choice. The study sheds light on the evolution of pheromone systems and brain complexity in moths.
Scientists have discovered a 54 million-year-old fossilized biting midge in amber, revealing an unusual vesicular structure at the front edge of its wings. This structure was likely used by the female midge to collect and spray pheromones for attraction, unlike modern biting midges that use simpler methods.
Researchers found that males lost neurons detecting female pheromones after chronic exposure, while females showed no effect from male urine. This study explains differences among individuals and between the sexes through sensory experience rather than innate or hormonal factors.
A new study reveals that a moth species, Paysandisia archon, exhibits behavior similar to butterflies, including using vision for partner-finding and not releasing pheromones. This convergence of traits is an evolutionary breakthrough in understanding sexual communication in Lepidoptera.
Scientists at Simon Fraser University have developed a new method to exterminate rats by replicating the male brown rat's sex pheromone. This attracts female brown rats, allowing for effective trapping. The discovery forms part of a three-pronged rat control tactic that also exploits sound communication and food preferences.
Researchers have discovered a complex alarm signaling system in Western Flower Thrips, which varies depending on the level of danger faced. The study found that the composition of the alarm pheromone changes when a predator is present but not attacking versus when attacked.
Researchers at UC Riverside have found a more environmentally friendly way to control the spread of Argentine ants by adding their pheromone to bait. The pheromone-infused gel bait reduced ant activity by 74%, compared to 42% with traditional baits, and is an inexpensive modification to existing products.
A team of scientists tracked radio-tagged coconut rhinoceros beetles on Guam to locate hidden breeding sites. The study found that the beetles often congregated around damaged palm trees, suggesting thousands of new breeding sites may exist in the islands' jungles.