Olfactory detection of prey by the termite-raiding antPachycondyla analis.
The African termiteraiding ant Pachycondyla analis Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) organizes group raids on termites of the subfamily Macrotermitinae. Termites and ants occupy and share similar habitats, resulting in a co-evolutionary arms race between termites as prey and ants as predators. The present study explored whether P. analis uses semio- chemical signaling cues to detect potential termite prey prior to and during raids. Ants' responses to odors emitted from termites alone, termite gallery soil, and termites inside their galleries were tested using Y-tube olfactometer assays. The results showed that P. analis detected odors of termites and those of their galleries, and odors from termites inside their galleries were more attractive to both minor and major ant workers than odors from termites alone. The composition of these odor sources was identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. While the odors from termite gallery soils were compositionally richer (containing 13 compounds rather than nine from termites alone), those from the termites alone were quantitatively richer, releasing about six times more odors than gallery soil. Most of the compounds in the odor profiles were identified as hydrocarbons. Naphthalene, previously identified as an insect repellent, was also identified as a component of the odors from the gallery soil. These results demonstrate that odors play an important role in prey detection by P. analis.
Social Insects Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028 Pretoria, Republic of South Africa icipe, P. O. Box 30772-00100 GPO Nairobi, Kenya aayusuf@zoology.up.ac.za.
Abdullahi Ahmed
AA
Yusuf
Social Insects Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028 Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.
Robin M
RM
Crewe
Social Insects Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028 Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.
Christian W W
CW
Pirk
D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000502:physiology*; D001681:Biological Assay; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D020049:Isoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D011235:Predatory Behavior
Matabele ants; Megaponera foetens; Ponerine ant; odors; olfactory cues; termite gallery soil