Behavioral and chemical analysis of venom gland secretion of queens of the ant Solenopsis geminata.
Bioassays in a Y-tube olfactometer showed that workers of Solenopsis geminata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were attracted to venom gland extracts of queens. Gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry analysis of individual glands of queens of S. geminata showed that the secretion is composed mainly of a large amount of 2-alkyl-6-methylpiperidine alkaloids and a tiny amount of a delta-lactone and a a-pyrone, which have been earlier identified as components of the queen attractant pheromone of Solenopsis invicta Buren. However, additional small amounts of a mixture of sesquiterpenes and pentadecene were found. The possible function of the sesquiterpenoid compounds is discussed.
Cruz-López
L
L
El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. lcruz@tap-ecosur.edu.mx
Rojas
J C
JC
De La Cruz-Cordero
R
R
Morgan
E D
ED
D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000737:chemistry*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D010675:Pheromones / Q000737:chemistry*; D012903:Smell
D010675:Pheromones