title: Chemical secretions of two sympatric harvester ants,Pogonomyrmex salinus andMessor lobognathus.
abstract: Messor lobognathus, an apparent mimic ofPogonomyrmex salinus, shows little chemical resemblance to its exemplar. The mandibular glands ofM. lobognathus gave no volatile compounds. Those ofP. salinus contain chiefly 4-methyl-3-heptanone. Both species contain a mixture of straight-chain alkanes, alkenes, and methyl-branched alkanes in their Dufour glands. Tridecane (64%) is the major substance inM. lobognathus and dodecane (25%) and pentadecane (24%) are the major compounds ofP. salinus. No secretion induced trail-following in either species. A mixture of 9-, 11-, and 13-methylheptacosane formed the largest peak in the chromatograms obtained from the postpharyngeal glands of both species, but otherwise the hydrocarbon mixtures in this gland too were distinct.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Keele University, ST5 5BG, Staffordshire, England.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Blom