Book

Description

Since the introduction in the fifties of the term pheromone to describe the chemical compound released by silkworm females that triggers the attraction of males of the same, many pheromones have been identified in animals. Pheromones are widespread in animals, vertebrates or not, and they are widely used in eusocial insects in which they are involved in most of social activities, such as sexual behavior, foraging, defense, aggregation, recognition, caste determination, or building behavior. Among eusocial insects, termites are truly dependent on pheromones to maintain the integrity of their society since they are blind and deaf. However, only few pheromones have been identified in termites so far in contrast to hymenopterans whose societies are similar. During the last decade, I have reviewed the glandular origin, the chemical nature, and the potential use in pest management of the trail pheromones and sex pheromones in termites.