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Early-exposure to new sex pheromone blends alters mate preference in female butterflies and in their offspring.

ABSTRACT: While the diversity of sex pheromone communication systems across insects is well documented, the mechanisms that lead to such diversity are not well understood. Sex pheromones constitute a species-specific system of sexual communication that reinforces interspecific reproductive isolation. When odor blends evolve, the efficacy of male-female communication becomes compromised, unless preference for novel blends also evolves. We explore odor learning as a possible mechanism leading to changes in sex pheromone preferences in the butterfly Bicyclus anynana. Our experiments reveal mating patterns suggesting that mating bias for new blends can develop following a short learning experience, and that this maternal experience impacts the mating outcome of offspring without further exposure. We propose that odor learning can be a key factor in the evolution of sex pheromone blend recognition and in chemosensory speciation.

SUBMITTER: Dion E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6940390 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Early-exposure to new sex pheromone blends alters mate preference in female butterflies and in their offspring.

Dion Emilie E Pui Li Xian LX Weber Katie K Monteiro Antónia A

Nature communications 20200102 1

While the diversity of sex pheromone communication systems across insects is well documented, the mechanisms that lead to such diversity are not well understood. Sex pheromones constitute a species-specific system of sexual communication that reinforces interspecific reproductive isolation. When odor blends evolve, the efficacy of male-female communication becomes compromised, unless preference for novel blends also evolves. We explore odor learning as a possible mechanism leading to changes in ...[more]

PMID: 31896746

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