Sesquiterpenes in the frontal gland secretions of nasute soldier termites from New Guinea.

In five New GuineaNasutitermes (N. gracilirostris, N. novarumhebridarum, N. torresi, N. triodiae, and an undescribed speciesN. sp.F), we have detected and identified 10 sesquiterpenes. Eight of these compounds (β)-elemene,β-caryophyllene,α-humulene,α-muurolene,γ-selinene,β-selinene, germacrene-A, and γ2-cadinene) were identified by GC and GC-MS (EI). Two uncommon sesquiterpenes, (5R(*), 7R(*), 10S(*))-selina-4(14),11-diene and (5R(*), 7R(*), 10S(*))-selina-3,11-diene, were identified by GC, GC-MS (EI, CI), GC-FTIR, and mono- and bidimensional NMR. Whereas in most species sesquiterpenes are present in low or trace amounts, inN. novarumhebridarum the sesquiterpenic fraction of soldier frontal gland secretion is equal to that of the monoterpenes.