Synthesis of z-monoalkene and a diether compound
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Ti'bran Dondre’ Pickens-Flynn (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Kimberly Petersen
Abstract: Honeybees, Apis mellifera, are domesticated to produce honey and pollinate crops. Honeybees play a significant role in the environment and food security. However, honeybee colonies are in decline because of anthropogenic stressors such as their natural habitat being destroyed, pesticide exposure, and being exposed to various parasites and diseases. These are anthropogenic stressors because they originate from the activity of humans. Arguably the greatest threat to the survival of western honeybees is the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor. The Varroa parasite puts a physical strain on the honeybees by feeding on the fat body of the brood which adversely influences the wellbeing of the honeybees. It is important to note that the Varroa parasite, must invade the honeybee brood cell for it to reproduce. Disrupting the olfactory senses of the Varroa mite we prevent them from reaching the brood cell; this is where their reproduction happens. The parasites that attach themselves to the honeybees can be stopped from reproducing through hygienic behavior. Hygienic behavior is the identifying, uncapping, and eliminating of the unhealthy brood from the honey bee hive. The hygienic behavior displayed by the honeybees is triggered by a chemical signal emitted by the brood. Honeybees produce compounds such as unsaturated fats and hydrocarbons for communication. The objective of the proposed research is to synthesize the Z10C31 hydrocarbon due to a recent analysis that suggest that the Z10C31 isomer is the major isomer and may be more biologically active than the current Z8C31 hydrocarbon being used to induce hygienic behavior. We also were interested in synthesizing the 5-(2'-methoxyethyl)-cyclopent-2-en-1-butoxyl diether that has been reported to disrupt the olfactory senses of the Varroa mite.
Synthesis of z-monoalkene and a diether compound
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Created on 8/1/2023
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2023
- Keywords
- Honey bee, Hygienic behavior, Monoalkenes, Olfactory senses, Varroa
- Subjects
- Honeybee $x Behavior
- Varroa destructor
- Hydrocarbons