7(Z)-
Tricosene is an unsaturated cuticular hydrocarbon that acts as a pheromone in some insects, including
Drosophila. While it is present in both sexes of some
Drosophila species, it is abundant in males, but not females, of
D. melanogaster and
D. sechellia.
1 In these species, 7(Z)-
tricosene prevents or reduces male courtship behavior
2 and increases female sexual receptivity.
3 It is absent from virgin
D. melanogaster females, but is transferred from males to females during mating.
4 In addition, mating induces the synthesis of 7(Z)-
tricosene by
D. melanogaster females, so that it acts as an anti-
aphrodisiac in mated females.
4 7(Z)-
Tricosene is also a minor component of labial gland secretion and cuticle of Bombus spp.
5,6
