Bumblebee wax moth (Aphomia sociella) is a parasite of bumblebees with their larvae infesting the bumblebee nests. Both sexes of this moth produce their respective pheromones as some of the means of reproductive signaling. The pheromones differ by sex, but both are mixtures containing 6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-ol and the corresponding ketone.
In a paper published in Scientific Reports, scientists from IOCB Prague and Mid Sweden University led by Irena Valterová report the absolute stereochemical configuration of the mentioned compounds. The compounds were extracted from the moths, characterized by the derivatization and gas chromatography and the configuration was confirmed by electroantennography.
Read the full paper:
- Wallin, E. A.; Kalinová, B.; Kindl, J.; Hedenström, E.; Valterová, I. Stereochemistry of two pheromonal components of the bumblebee wax moth, Aphomia sociella. Scientific Reports 2020, 10, 2094.. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-59069-1
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