Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chemical defense secretions of some species of Malaysian rhinotermitidae (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae)

  • Published:
Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The defense secretions of the soldiers of the Malaysian rhinotermitid,Parrhinotermes aequalis (Havilandi) andP. pygmaeus (John),Termitogeton planus (Havilandi) andSchedorhinotermes malaccensis (Holmgren) consist mainly of vinyl ketones, whereas that ofProrhinotermes flavus (Bugnion & Popoff) gives (E)-1-nitropentadecene. The chemistry of the defense secretions ofParrhinotermes andTermitogeton is documented and based on their chemical relationships;Termitogeton shows a closer affinity to the Rhinotermitinae than Heterotermitinae.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Moore, B.P. 1968. Studies on chemical composition and function of the cephalic gland secretion in Australian termites.J. Insect Physiol. 14:33–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prestwich, G.D. 1979a. Chemical defense by termite soldiers,J. Chem. Ecol. 5:459–480.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prestwich, G.D. 1979b. Termite chemical defense: New natural products and chemosystematics.Sociobiology 4:127–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prestwich, G.D. 1983. Chemical systematics of termite exocrine secretions.Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 14:287–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prestwich, G.D., andCollins, M.S. 1982. Chemical defense secretions of the termite soldiers ofAcorhinotermes andRhinotermes (Isoptera, Rhinotermitinae): Ketones, vinyl ketones and β-ketoaldehydes derived from fatty acids.J. Chem. Ecol. 8:147–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prestwich, G.D., Kaib, M., Wood, W.F., andMeinwald, J. 1975. l,13-Tetradecadien-3-one and homologs: New natural products fromSchedorhinotermes.Tetrahedron Lett. 52:4701–4704.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quennedey, A., andDeligne, J. 1975. L'arme frontale des soldats de termites I. Rhinotermitidae.Insect. Soc. 22:243–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quennedey, A., Brule, G., Rigaud, J., Dubois, P., andBrossut, R. 1973. La glande frontale des soldats deSchedorhinotermes putorius Sjostedt (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae).Insect Biochem. 3:67–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roonwal, M.L. 1970. Termites of the Oriental region,in K. Krishna, and F.M. Weesner (eds.). Biology of Termites. Academic Press, New York.2:315–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vrkoc, J., andUbik, K. 1974. 1-Nitro-trans-1-pentadecene as the defense component of a termite.Tetrahedron Lett. 1974:146–1464.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, University of Malaya, 59100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    C. H. Chuah & S. H. Goh

  2. Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia

    Y. P. Tho

Authors
  1. C. H. Chuah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. H. Goh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Y. P. Tho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chuah, C.H., Goh, S.H. & Tho, Y.P. Chemical defense secretions of some species of Malaysian rhinotermitidae (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae). J Chem Ecol 16, 685–692 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01016479

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01016479

Key words

Search

Navigation