Accumulation ofDendrobium superbum (orchidaceae) fragrance in the rectal glands by males of the melon fly,Dacus cucurbitae

R Nishida; O Iwahashi; K H Tan

doi:10.1007/BF00985003

Accumulation ofDendrobium superbum (orchidaceae) fragrance in the rectal glands by males of the melon fly,Dacus cucurbitae

J Chem Ecol. 1993 Apr;19(4):713-22. doi: 10.1007/BF00985003.

Authors

R Nishida¹, O Iwahashi, K H Tan

Affiliation

¹ Pesticide Research Institute Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University, 606, Kyoto, Japan.

PMID: 24249012
DOI: 10.1007/BF00985003

Abstract

4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone was characterized from flowers of the orchidDendrobium superbum as a specific attractant factor for the male melon fly,Dacus cucurbitae. The male flies compulsively licked the flower surface and sequestered the compound in significant quantities in their rectal glands. The compound was detected within 6 hr after ingestion and was retained for more than six days in the rectal gland sacs.