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Odour conveys status on cockroaches

Nature volume 389, page 25 (1997)Cite this article

The evolution of social dominance is thought to require phenotypic traits that convey honest information regarding an individual's status1. These ‘badges of status’ could be communicated by any means, but only avian plumage has been examined and provides equivocal support for the hypothesis2. By chemical manipulation of the odour of socially naive male cockroaches (Nauphoeta cinerea) we show that the sex pheromone of males determines rather than reflects status. The individual chemical constituents of the pheromone have contrasting effects on status, but the evolution of the blend that confers dominance may be constrained by contrasting selection pressures resulting from female mate choice.

The male-produced pheromone of N. cinerea that attracts females is composed of three compounds: 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, 2-methylthiazolidine and 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol3,4. The quantities of these are heritable and co-vary with male status5,6. Female mate choice is based on pheromonal differences among males7,8. We manipulated the quantities of these three components individually and in combinations to investigate their effect on interactions between males.

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Figure 1: Pairs of males were treated, one with the compound (or mixture) and one with acetone (10 μl placed on a filter paper on the pronotum).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Transylvania University, Lexington, 40508, Kentucky, USA

    Patricia J. Moore & Allen J. Moore

  2. Division of Math and Sciences, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, 40601, Kentucky, USA

    Nancy L. Reagan-Wallin

  3. Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 40546-0091, Kentucky, USA

    Kenneth F. Haynes

Authors
  1. Patricia J. Moore
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  2. Nancy L. Reagan-Wallin
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  3. Kenneth F. Haynes
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  4. Allen J. Moore
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Moore, P., Reagan-Wallin, N., Haynes, K. et al. Odour conveys status on cockroaches. Nature 389, 25 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/37888

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