A - Papers appearing in refereed journals
Harvey, D. J., Vuts, J., Hooper, A. M., Caulfield, J. C., Finch, P., Gange, A. C., Chapman, J., Birkett, M. A. and Pickett, J. A. 2024. Novel pheromone-mediated reproductive behaviour in the stag beetle, Lucanus cervus. Scientific Reports. 14, p. 6037. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55985-8
Authors | Harvey, D. J., Vuts, J., Hooper, A. M., Caulfield, J. C., Finch, P., Gange, A. C., Chapman, J., Birkett, M. A. and Pickett, J. A. |
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Abstract | The iconic European stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) is one of the largest terrestrial beetles in Europe. Due to decreasing population numbers, thought to be a consequence of habitat loss, this beetle has become a near-threatened species across much of Europe, and a reliable monitoring system is required to measure its future population trends. As part of a programme aimed at conserving UK populations, we have investigated the chemical ecology of the beetle, with a view to developing an efficient semiochemical-based monitoring system. Such a scheme will be beneficial not only in the UK but across the European range of the species, where the beetle is of conservation concern. Here, we report on a surprising discovery of a male-produced pheromone, which provokes initial sexual receptivity in females, and which has not been previously identified in the animal kingdom. Furthermore, we assign sex pheromone function to a previously described female-specific compound. |
Year of Publication | 2024 |
Journal | Scientific Reports |
Journal citation | 14, p. 6037 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55985-8 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Funder | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council |
Funder project or code | Growing Health [ISP] |
Growing Health (WP1) - bio-inspired solutions for healthier agroecosystems: Understanding biointeractions | |
Publisher's version | Copyright license CC BY |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 12 Mar 2024 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 29 Feb 2024 |
Publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
ISSN | 2045-2322 |
Permalink - https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/98yv8/novel-pheromone-mediated-reproductive-behaviour-in-the-stag-beetle-lucanus-cervus