biostudies-literatureUnknown5(1)Dolejsova KIt is long established that queens of social insects, including termites, maintain their reproductive dominance with queen primer pheromones (QPPs). Yet, the QPP chemistry has only been elucidated in a single species of lower termites. By contrast, the most diversified termite family Termitidae (higher termites), comprising over 70% of termite species, has so far resisted all attempts at QPP identification. Here, we show that the queen- and egg-specific sesquiterpene (3R,6E)-nerolidol acts as the QPP in the higher termite Embiratermes neotenicus. This species has a polygynous breeding system, in which the primary queen is replaced by multiple neotenic queens of parthenogenetic origin. We demonstrate that (3R,6E)-nerolidol suppresses the development of these parthenogenetic queens and thus Communications biology1165https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9630296biostudies-literatureIdentification of a queen primer pheromone in higher termites.PMC9630296Horacek NRoy VStafkova JKalinova BHavlickova JDolejsova KKrivanek JRoy AKyjakova PHanus RfalseIdentification of a queen primer pheromone in higher termites.It is long established that queens of social insects, including termites, maintain their reproductive dominance with queen primer pheromones (QPPs). Yet, the QPP chemistry has only been elucidated in a single species of lower termites. By contrast, the most diversified termite family Termitidae (higher termites), comprising over 70% of termite species, has so far resisted all attempts at QPP identification. Here, we show that the queen- and egg-specific sesquiterpene (3R,6E)-nerolidol acts as the QPP in the higher termite Embiratermes neotenicus. This species has a polygynous breeding system, in which the primary queen is replaced by multiple neotenic queens of parthenogenetic origin. We demonstrate that (3R,6E)-nerolidol suppresses the development of these parthenogenetic queens and thus 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2025-04-05T11:56:59.691Z2025-04-05T11:56:59.691ZS-EPMC96302963632379410.1038/s42003-022-04163-5