Functional diversity and regulation of cuticular hydrocarbons in social insects

doi:10.17520/biods.2024302

Abstract

Abstract:

Background & Aims: Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), widely present in the insect epicuticle, provide significant contributions to many terrestrial insect adaptations. Insect CHCs function primarily in waterproofing, resisting harmful substances, and facilitating chemical communication. Compared to the compositional and functional diversity of CHCs in solitary or subsocial insects, the diversity of social insects offers a valuable source of insights into their unique genetic structure, population composition, and characteristic behavioral patterns.

Progresses: This review characterizes the structures and properties of CHCs that enable particular functions, summarizes their functional diversity, and discusses the influence of both endogenous factors and external elements on the profile variability of CHCs in social insects. Furthermore, potential future research directions are proposed. The CHCs in social insects are regulated through nestmate recognition, caste differentiation, division of labor, social immunity, reproductive state recognition, and inter-specific interactions. Remarkably, some CHCs have been designated for queen pheromones. The CHC profiles of social insects can exhibit remarkable variability to meet the demands of functional differentiation. The synthesis, composition, and content of CHCs in social insects can be influenced by a wide range of internal factors (including gene and hormone levels) as well as extrinsic factors (including diet, gut microbiome, pathogenic organisms, temperature, humidity, ultraviolet radiation, nest materials, etc.).

Prospects: Emerging technologies, such as the quantitative genetic framework, immunohistochemical localization, and fluorescent in situ hybridization, will enable new insights to be obtained into the synthesis, translocation, release, functional diversity, and regulation of CHCs, enhancing our understanding of their role in insect adaptive evolution. The research discussed in this review can provide a theoretical basis for the development of novel technologies to control invasive agroforestry pests.

Key words: social insects, cuticular hydrocarbons, functional diversity, component heterogeneity, behavioral regulation

Liu Zhixiang, Xie Hua, Zhang Hui, Huang Xiaolei. Functional diversity and regulation of cuticular hydrocarbons in social insects[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(2): 24302.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2024302

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2025/V33/I2/24302

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References 110

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