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''. It has also evolved into a sex pheromone in wasps such as ''
Leptopilina'', 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''.
See also
*
Cat pheromone#Cat attractants for other chemicals that have behavioural effects on cats
References
Iridoids
Lactones
Cyclopentanes
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