ABSTRACT
The long-chain carboxylic acids identified in the sternal gland secretion ofPolistes dominulus andP. sulcifer females were tested individually on three species of ants,Crematogaster scutellaris, Formica cunicularia, andLasius sp., in order to verify if they have a repellent effect. The unsaturated acids (palmitoleic, linoleic, and oleic) act as repellents of all three ant species, while the saturated acids (lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic) have no effect. The mixture reproducing the secretion of the sternal glands ofP. dominulus maintained its repellency for at least four days.
ABSTRACT
The secretion of the tegumental glands of the fifth and sixth gastral sternites ofP. dominulus and of its social parasiteP. sulcifer was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seven long-chain carboxylic acids have been identified: hexadecanoic, octadecadienoic and octadecenoic acids are the major components of the gland secretion ofP. dominulus and octadecenoic acid the main compounds ofP. sulcifer sternal gland secretion. The same carboxylic acids have been found on the nest pedicel.
ABSTRACT
The Dufour glands ofAenictus rotundatus contain a complex mixture of terpenoids with geranylgeraniol comprising over 50% of the secretion. Some novel compounds have been tentatively identified as higher homologs of 1,3,3-trimethyl-2,7-dioxabicyclo[2,2,1]heptane based on GC-MS data. The Dufour gland secretion ofA. rotundatus is more similar in composition to the secretions of members of the subfamily Ecitoninae than to its closer relatives from the tribe Dorylini, a result that further complicates studies on the phylogeny of army ants. The mandibular glands ofA. rotundatus contain a mixture of 4-methyl-3-heptanone and limonene in trace amounts, and the well-developed postpygidial glands contain methyl anthranilate only.
