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(+)-α-Pinene in the defensive secretion ofNasutitermes princeps (Isoptera, Termitidae)

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Summary

The frontal secretion ofNasutitermes princeps consists of 89% diterpenes and 11% monoterpenes. In the samples studied, (+)-α-pinene, whose optical purity reaches 99.5%, accounts for more than 80% of the monoterpenic content.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Zoologie, URA-CNRS 55, Université de Bourgogne, 6 Bd. Gabriel, F-21000, Dijon, France

    C. Everaerts & O. Bonnard

  2. Laboratoire de Biologie animale et cellulaire, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 Av. F. D. Roosevelt, B-1050, Bruxelles, Belgium

    J. M. Pasteels & Y. Roisin

  3. Institut für organische Chemie, 6 Martin-Luther-King Platz, D-2000, Hamburg 13, Federal Republic of Germany

    W. A. König

Authors
  1. C. Everaerts
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  2. O. Bonnard
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  3. J. M. Pasteels
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  4. Y. Roisin
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  5. W. A. König
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Additional information

Acknowledgments. We are indebted to Prof. W. Francke for helpful comments on first drafts of the manuscript.

This study (contribution No. 179 of King Léopold III Biological Station, Laing Island, Papua New Guinea) was supported by a grant from the Belgian Fund for Joint Basic Research (No. 2.9001.86).

Senior Research Assistant of the F.N.R.S. (Belgium).

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Everaerts, C., Bonnard, O., Pasteels, J.M. et al. (+)-α-Pinene in the defensive secretion ofNasutitermes princeps (Isoptera, Termitidae). Experientia 46, 227–230 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02027325

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02027325

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