Pheromones of twisted wings

Twisted wings or Strepsiptera are one of the most enigmatic insect orders. They are parasitic, the worm-like female living in the body of other insects, e.g. solitary bees or wasps. Only males are recognizable as insects and can fly, searching für females. 

For long, the mechanism by which males are able to find their hidden females was unclear. Dr. Tolasch from our group solved the question: Females release a pheromone, that is used by males for mate finding. For the first time, a pheromone was identified for the insect order Strepsiptera by Dr. Tolasch for the species Stylops melittae and its efficacy in the field to attract females was demonstrated.

Tolasch T, Kehl S, Dötterl S. 2012. First sex pheromone of the order strepsiptera: (3R,5R,9R)-3,5,9-trimethyldodecanal in Stylops melittae KIRBY, 1802. J Chem Ecol. 38:1493-503.