Fig. 1.

Multiple functions of cis-vaccenyl acetate. A male-specific lipid (Z)-11-octadecen-1-yl acetate, so-called cis-vaccenyl acetate (cVA) has multiple functions in social communication. From distance, cVA works as an aggregation pheromone, attracting other flies. In close proximity, for a male, presence of cVA on the other male promotes male–male aggression behavior, while absence of cVA indicates that the nearby fly is a female and stimulates courtship. Meanwhile, for a female, presence of cVA on the courting male enhances copulation receptivity. Presence of little amount of cVA on the mated female, transferred from the male during copulation, works as an anti-aphrodisiac pheromone, decreasing sexual motivation of a male