Novel pheromone-mediated reproductive behaviour in the stag beetle, Lucanus cervus

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

AuthorsHarvey, D. J., Vuts, J., Hooper, A. M., Caulfield, J. C., Finch, P., Gange, A. C., Chapman, J., Birkett, M. A. and Pickett, J. A.
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 Publication2024
JournalScientific Reports
Journal citation14, p. 6037
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55985-8
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or codeGrowing Health [ISP]
Growing Health (WP1) - bio-inspired solutions for healthier agroecosystems: Understanding biointeractions
Publisher's version
Copyright license
CC BY
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online12 Mar 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted29 Feb 2024
PublisherNature Publishing Group
ISSN2045-2322

Permalink - https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/98yv8/novel-pheromone-mediated-reproductive-behaviour-in-the-stag-beetle-lucanus-cervus

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