Moth Female-Attracting Pheromone Distributors

1511415_883336955020650_3898393449695422700_n

[Creatonotos gangis] [a]dult males secrete the pheromone hydroxydanaidal in order to attract mates. The amount produced, and the size of the coremata (scent organs) which produce it, are however dependent on the diet that the moth experienced as a caterpillar.

If the larval diet contained pyrrolizidine alkaloids, then the coremata become large and the male will release up to 400 miligrams(0.4 grams) of hydroxydanaidal, but if it does not, then the coremata do not grow large and no scent is produced.

Photograph by Juan Manuel.
Quoted text via Wikipedia.

This entry was posted in Science by . Bookmark the permalink.

About

I design video games for a living, write fiction, political theory and poetry for personal amusement, and train regularly in Western European 16th century swordwork. On frequent occasion I have been known to hunt for and explore abandoned graveyards, train tunnels and other interesting places wherever I may find them, but there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that I am preparing to set off a zombie apocalypse. Nothing that will stand up in court, at least. I use paranthesis with distressing frequency, have a deep passion for history, anthropology and sociological theory, and really, really, really hate mayonnaise. But I wash my hands after the writing. Promise.

Leave a Reply