EcologybioRxivPreprint
An oviposition pheromone, hexadecanoic acid, found on the eggs of Phlebotomus papatasi from Central Tunisia, attracts gravid females and stimulates oviposition.
Ifhem Chelbi, Elyes Zhioua, Marta Strecker Shocket, James Gordon Campbell Hamilton
This study identifies hexadecanoic acid as an oviposition pheromone in Tunisian Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies, which increases egg-laying and attracts gravid females.
DOI 10.1101/2025.05.01.651664