Walter Soares LEAL*, Paulo H. G. Zarbin and Hubert WOJTASEK
Laboratory of Chemical Prospecting, National Institute of Sericultural and Entomological Science,
1-2 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan
Hitherto, biosynthesis of scarab beetle sex pheromones remained a matter of speculation (Leal, 1996) because the pheromone glands were not known. Recently, we have identiffied that the sex pheromone glands of the scarab beetle Anomala albopilosa (Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae) are located in the inner surface of cuticular layers of the last abdominal sternite and that the cell exudates are released through cuticular orifices (Tada and Leal). These findings paved the way for the investigation in the biosynthetic pathway of sex pheromones.
Examination of the sex pheromone glands chemistry of Anomala cuprea showed the presence of some possible precursors in addition to the two pheromone constituents, buibuilactone |(R,Z)-5-(dec-1-enyl)oxacyclopentan-2-one| and japonilure |(R,Z)-5-(dec-1-enyl)oxacyclopentan-2-one|. That the major sex pheromone constituent, for example, is synthesized from palmitoleic acid was demonstrated by the application of 2H2-palmitoleic acid to the glands. GC-MS of the extracts obtained a few hours later showed the occurence of 2H2-buibuilactone.
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