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Chemistry and functions of exocrine secretions of the antsTapinoma melanocephalum and T. erraticum |
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| Authors: | M. D. Tomalski M. S. Blum T. H. Jones H. M. Fales D. F. Howard L. Passera |
| Affiliation: | (1) Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, 30602 Athens, Georgia;(2) Department of Chemistry, College of William and Mary, 23185 Williamsburg, Virginia;(3) Laboratory of Chemistry, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 20205 Bethesda, Maryland;(4) Present address: Subtropical Horticultural Research Station, USDA-ARS, 33158 Miami, Florida;(5) Present address: Laboratoire de Biologie, Université Paul-Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse Cedex, France |
| Abstract: | Volatile constituents produced by ant workers belonging to the speciesTapinoma melanocephalum andT. erraticum have been analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The pygidial (=anal) gland secretion ofT. melanocephalum is fortified with 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and actinidine (the mass spectrum of which is corrected in this paper). An unidentified compound was detected in cephalic extracts. The pygidial gland secretion ofT. erraticum was also dominated by 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, in addition to two isomers of iridodial, and iridomyrmecin. The sternal glands contained iridodial and C15-C20 hydrocarbons. Workers ofT. melanocephalum effectively utilize their pygidial gland secretions as an alarm-defense system during aggressive encounters with workers ofSolenopsis geminata. 6-Methyl-5-hepten-2-one is active as a releaser of alarm behavior, and actinidine is repellent to workers ofT. melanocephalum. Cephalic extracts possessed attractant and arrestant properties for workers of this species. |
| Keywords: | Tapinoma melanocephalum Tapinoma erraticum pygidial gland sternal gland actinidine chemistry attractant arrestant repellent alarm behavior cephalic extract Solenopsis geminata |
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