Iridomyrmecin is a defensive chemical, classified as an
iridoid
Iridoids are a type of monoterpenoids in the general form of cyclopentanopyran, found in a wide variety of plants and some animals. They are biosynthetically derived from 8-oxogeranial. Iridoids are typically found in plants as glycosides, mo ...
, isolated from ants of the genus ''
Iridomyrmex
''Iridomyrmex'' is a genus of ants called rainbow ants (referring to their blue-green iridescent sheen) first described by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr in 1862. He placed the genus in the subfamily Dolichoderinae of the family Formici ...
''. It has also evolved into a sex pheromone in wasps such as ''
Leptopilina
''Leptopilina'' is a genus of parasitoid wasp in the family Figitidae. The genus is best known for the three Drosophila parasitoids '' Leptopilina boulardi'', '' Leptopilina heterotoma'' and '' Leptopilina clavipes,'' used to study host-parasit ...
'', with host species using the smell of iridomyrmecin as a way of detecting the presence of the parasitoid wasps. Iridomyrmecin is also found in a variety of plants including ''
Actinidia polygama
''Actinidia polygama'' (also known as , silver vine, , and cat powder) is a species of kiwifruit in the Actinidiaceae family. It grows in the mountainous areas of Korea, Japan and China at elevations between .
Silver vine can reach up to high ...
''.
See also
*
Cat pheromone#Cat attractants for other chemicals that have behavioural effects on cats
References
Iridoids
Lactones
Cyclopentanes
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