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Science 6 May 1983:
Vol. 220. no. 4597, pp. 624 - 626
DOI: 10.1126/science.220.4597.624
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Articles

Bark Beetle Conversion of a Plant Compound to a Sex-Specific Inhibitor of Pheromone Attraction

JOHN A. BYERS 1

1 Department of Entomological Sciences, University of California, Berkeley 94720

Both sexes of the bark beetle Dendroctonus brevicomis convert the (+) and (–) enantiomers of the tree terpene agr-pinene to the corresponding enantiomers of trans-verbenol at about equal rates. (–)-trans-Verbenol inhibited the response of females, but not of males, to a mixture of attractive pheromone components. Since the female initiates the attack on a pine tree, (–)-trans-verbenol may play a role in reducing intraspecific competition for breeding areas.

Submitted on August 3, 1982
Revised on November 2, 1982

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)