Chemistry of mandibular and Dufour's gland secretions of ants in genusMyrmecocystus

Abstract

Males of several species ofMyrmecocystus produce mandibular gland secretions that contain 2,4-dimethyl-2-hexenoic acid and a variety of monoterpenes that include neral, geranial, citronellol, limonene, and 2,6-dimethyl-5-hepten-1-ol. Other components identified include methyl anthranilate, octanal, octanol, octyl octanoate, and 2-hexyl-2-decenal. Methyl salicylate has been identified as a mandibular gland constituent of workers of several species in addition to mellein and monoterpenes such as cymene, limonene, and the isomers of citral. The Dufour's gland secretions of workers and females of 14 species contain typical formicine alkanes (e.g., undecane), 2-alkanols (e.g., 2-tridecanol), and 2-alkanones (e.g., 2-tridecanone). Two species in the subgenusEremnocystus produce secretions that are distinguished by the presence of significant quantities of tridecyl esters. The functions of these compounds as well as their possible chemosystematic significance in the genusMyrmecocystus are discussed.

Complex chemical communication in the crazy ant Paratrechina longicornis Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

“…This finding is consistent with other formicine and non-formicine ants (Billen and Morgan 1998;Buschinger and Maschwitz 1984;Vander Meer and Alonso 1998;Wilson and Regnier 1971). A comparably strong effect was found to be triggered by Dufour gland secretion, a gland which is frequently involved in formicine alarm communication (Lloyd et al 1989;Löfqvist 1976;Regnier and Wilson 1968). The effect in P. longicornis, however, was different from an "enemy alarm" and can be described more like a positive alert including strong attraction.…”

Bioecology and chemical diversity of abdominal glands in the iranian samsum ant Pachycondyla sennaarensis (Formicidae: Ponerinae)

“…Of 15 examined species of the genus Myrmecocystus, ten were found to bear pentadecan-2-one in the Dufour glands of workers (39). Similarly, variable volumes of pentadecan-2-one were reported in different species within Cataglyphis bicolor group (40).…”

Insect chemical communication: Pheromones and exocrine glands of ants

“…Pogonomyrmex males discharge their mandibular glands at perennial mating sites, or 'leks' (H611dobler 1976). Males of some other genera, including Calomyrmex (Brown & Moore 1979), Myrmecocystus (Lloyd et al 1989), Tetramorium (Pasteels et al 1980) and Polyrhachis (Bellas & H611dobler 1985), are known to have well-developed mandibular glands containing distinct blends of compounds. Longhurst & Howse (1979) describe a totally different strategy that males use to locate females.…”

“…The presence in different species of the same or biosynthetically related compounds may indicate a close relationship between those species and may be characteristic of a particular genus, tribe or higher taxa. For example, the mandibular glands of males of species of honey ants, Myrmecocystus, contain some compounds that are specific to the subgenus or genus, whereas other components of the mandibular gland, and those of the Dufour gland, are characteristic of the tribe Lasiini or the subfamily Formicinae (Lloyd et al 1989). The compositions of the Dufour gland secretions of Nothomyrmecia macrops and two Myrmecia species are very similar Jackson et al 1989c).…”