Assortative mating between European corn borer pheromone races: beyond assortative meeting.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sex pheromone communication systems may be a major force driving moth speciation by causing behavioral reproductive isolation via assortative meeting of conspecific individuals. The 'E' and 'Z' pheromone races of the European corn borer (ECB) are a textbook example in this respect. 'Z' females produce and 'Z' males preferentially respond to a 'Z' pheromone blend, while the 'E' race communicates via an 'E' blend. Both races do not freely hybridize in nature and their populations are genetically differentiated. A straightforward explanation would be that their reproductive isolation is a mere consequence of "assortative meeting" resulting from their different pheromones specifically attracting males towards same-race females at long range. However, previous laboratory expe

SUBMITTER: Pelozuelo L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1891084 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature