The Contents of the Dufour Gland of the Ant Harpagoxenus sublaevis Nyl. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

The volatile components of the Dufour gland secretion of workers cf the ant Harpagoxenus sublaevis have been analysed by gas chrom atography and mass spectrometry. Over 20 com ponents have been identified, consisting of linear and terpenoid hydrocarbons. Each gland contains approximately 6 ng of hydrocarbons with n-heptadecene (40% ) and /n-heptadecadiene (30% ) as the major components. Two terpenoid hydrocarbons, (E)-β-farnesene and a homofarnesene isomer were also identified.

Colony specificity of Dufour gland secretions in a functionally monogynous ant

“…A comparative analysis of Dufour gland contents failed to find fundamental differences between the secretions of H. sublae6is and those of several Leptothorax, in which Dufour gland content is not used in the context of slave raids or parasitic colony founding. Only two terpenoids, (E)-i-farnesene and a homofarnesene, exclusively occurred in the gland of H. sublae6is (Ollett et al 1987). In analogy to the results of our study we suggest that the activity of propaganda substances in H. sublae6is and probably also L. kutteri results from species and colony specificity rather than from a single toxic or repellent agent.…”

Convergent evolution of the Dufour’s gland secretion as a propaganda substance in the slave-making ant genera Protomognathus and Harpagoxenus

“…The most prominent compounds in the glands were alkanes, alkenes and dienes (range C15-C33). In accordance with an earlier study (Ollett et al, 1987), GC-MS analysis of H. sublaevis Dufour's glands additionally yielded farnesene. In the Multiple Correspondence Analysis (Fig.…”

“…This view is corroborated by the preliminary analysis of the gland content's composition: Although based on low sample sizes and identification of only a few of the detected compounds, our data clearly suggests that the two slave-maker species indeed produce different substances. Considering that Dufour's glands contents appear to be highly variable among ant species and exhibit an extreme diversity of chemical compounds (e.g., Ali et al, 1987Ali et al, , 1989Ollett et al, 1987;Bagnères et al, 1991;Bestmann et al, 1995;Visicchio et al, 2000;Morgan et al, 2003), glandular secretions are probably very versatile and can undergo rapid evolutionary changes. The propaganda substance of P. americanus thus likely represents a convergent phylogenetic development.…”

Isolation and bacterial expression of a sesquiterpene synthase cDNA clone from peppermint ( Mentha x piperita , L.) that produces the aphid alarm pheromone ( E )-β-farnesene

“…(E)-␤-Farnesene is emitted by the Dufour's gland of andrenid bees (11) and by several genera of ants (12)(13)(14), where it serves both as a defensive allomone and as a trail pheromone. This sesquiterpene is synthesized de novo in the osmetrial glands of larval Papilio (Lepidoptera͞Papilionidae) as an allomone (15), and it functions as a feeding stimulant to the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera͞Psychodidae), an important vector of the blood disease leishmaniasis (16).…”