{"entity": "journal", "iuid": "0dbdd499df0b48e0912e980c0dd5cb64", "timestamp": "2026-09-26T23:02:53.315Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/journal/J%20Chem%20Ecol.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/journal/J%20Chem%20Ecol"}}, "title": "J Chem Ecol", "issn": "1573-1561", "issn-l": null, "publications_count": 1, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "2bafc41450d94f81abd7644774c68ad2", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/2bafc41450d94f81abd7644774c68ad2.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/2bafc41450d94f81abd7644774c68ad2"}}, "title": "The Scent of the Fly.", "authors": [{"family": "Becher", "given": "Paul G", "initials": "PG"}, {"family": "Lebreton", "given": "Sebastien", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "Wallin", "given": "Erika A", "initials": "EA"}, {"family": "Hedenstr\u00f6m", "given": "Erik", "initials": "E"}, {"family": "Borrero", "given": "Felipe", "initials": "F"}, {"family": "Bengtsson", "given": "Marie", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Joerger", "given": "Volker", "initials": "V"}, {"family": "Witzgall", "given": "Peter", "initials": "P", "orcid": "0000-0002-4697-3380", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/5af02493e623459aaa7478d904319f94.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2018-05-00", "journal": {"title": "J Chem Ecol", "issn": "1573-1561", "volume": "44", "issue": "5", "pages": "431-435", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "(Z)-4-undecenal (Z4-11Al) is the volatile pheromone produced by females of the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster. Female flies emit Z4-11Al for species-specific communication and mate-finding. A sensory panel finds that synthetic Z4-11Al has a characteristic flavour, which can be perceived even at the small amounts produced by a single female fly. Since only females produce Z4-11Al, and not males, we can reliably distinguish between single D. melanogaster males and females, according to their scent. Females release Z4-11Al at 2.4 ng/h and we readily sense 1 ng synthetic Z4-11Al in a glass of wine (0.03 nmol/L), while a tenfold concentration is perceived as a loud off-flavour. This corroborates the observation that a glass of wine is spoilt by a single D. melanogaster fly falling into it, which we here show is caused by Z4-11Al. The biological role of Z4-11Al or structurally related aldehydes in humans and the basis for this semiochemical convergence remains yet unclear.", "doi": "10.1007/s10886-018-0950-4", "pmid": "29611073", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pii", "key": "10.1007/s10886-018-0950-4"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-09-23T12:48:05.185Z", "modified": "2026-09-23T12:48:05.258Z"}], "created": "2026-09-23T12:48:05.224Z", "modified": "2026-09-23T12:48:05.224Z"}