Venom chemistry of ants in the genusMonomorium

Jones, Tappey H.; Blum, Murray S.; Howard, Ralph W.; McDaniel, C. A.; Fales, Henry M.; Dubois, Mark B.; Torres, Juan A.

doi:10.1007/bf00984024

Cited by 55 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…On Surprise Island it ranked second in dominance from bait interactions, but we had no observations at night. This species produces a venomous substance (2.5-dialkylpyrrolidines) in its poison gland which it uses to repel other ant species in competitive interactions at food resources (Jones et al 1982). Our observations agree with those of Sarty et al (2006) in Tokelau atoll, where M. floricola have fighting abilities superior to Anoplolepis gracilipes (which sprays formic acid) and displaced other ant species from baits.…”

Section: Temperature and Activity Rhythmssupporting

confidence: 82%

Ant community structure on a small Pacific island: only one native species living with the invaders

et al. 2011

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In most studies about ant communities, species are grouped into competitive hierarchies where top dominants drive the majority of other species away from resources. Nevertheless, in some ecosystems high ground temperatures may disrupt this hierarchical organization. Other changes in community structure are caused by the arrival of invasive ant species, which rapidly disassemble local communities. We studied the effects of competition and temperature on ant community organization on Surprise Island (New Caledonia). Four different habitats were distinguished: a central plain, a sea shore Argusia shrubland, a dense Scaveola shrub, and an arboreal Pisonia strata. Eight ant species were identified from pitfall traps (seven introduced and only one native species, Pheidole oceanica). Ant assemblages in each habitat had a different ecologically dominant species, and a dominant species in one habitat could be non-dominant and less abundant in another. From interactions at baits, we built a competitive hierarchy where the top dominant species was the native Ph. oceanica. Daily foraging activity rhythms of the different species mostly overlapped. The relationship between bait occupation and ground temperature followed a negative linear pattern at all sites and for most species, except for the relatively thermophilous Monomorium floricola. Indices of co-occurrence in pitfall traps indicated that species co-occurred randomly with respect to one another. Conversely, species appeared to be segregated when we examined co-occurrence at baits at the sites where Ph. oceanica was abundant. Oceanic islands are very susceptible to alien species, but on Surprise Island it seems that the sole native species dominates in some habitats when confronted by invasive species.

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Section: Temperature and Activity Rhythmssupporting

confidence: 82%

Ant community structure on a small Pacific island: only one native species living with the invaders

et al. 2011

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“…Zealand Monomorium species (Jones et al, 1982b(Jones et al, , 1988, where other carbonchain lengths are not observed or are minor components. Additionally, while the presence of monocyclic alkaloids accompanying bicyclic alkaloids of the same carbon number in a particular ant venom has been reported, this is the first report of a monocyclic ant venom alkaloid (2) having side-chain functionality at a position that might permit the biosynthesis of a third C-N bond (in this case, by allylic activation), to yield the bicyclic alkaloid, 3, found only in the queens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemistry of venom alkaloids in someSolenopsis (Diplorhoptrum) species from Puerto Rico

et al. 1996

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A number of 15-carbon alkaloids have been identified in venom extracts of four Puerto Rican species of ants in the genusSolenopsis (Diplorhoptrum). Workers of a species from El Verde produced thecis andtrans isomers of 2-methyl-6-nonylpiperidine with the latter isomer predominating. The same compounds were identified in queens of a species from Río Grande, but in this species no alkaloids were detected in worker extracts. Workers of aDiplorhoptrum species collected on Mona Island produced primarily atrans-2-methyl-6-(Z-4-nonenyl)piperidine,3, with smaller amounts of thecis isomer, whereas the major compound found in the queens of the same species on Mona Island was (5Z,9Z)-3-hexyl-5-methylindolizidine, identical with the alkaloid produced by queens of a species collected on Cabo Rojo. Surprisingly, workers of the Cabo Rojo species produced (5Z,9Z)- and (5E,9E)-3-butyl-5-propylindolizidine (4 and5, respectively) reported earlier as the 223AB indolizidines from skins of dendrobatid frogs. The possible significance of the qualitative and quantitative differences in the venom alkaloids synthesized by queens and workers is discussed as is the possibility that ants containing such alkaloids may serve as a dietary source for the skin alkaloids used by certain frogs in chemical defense.

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“…The venom of M. minimum is dominated by two classes of alkaloids; 2,5-dialkyl-pyrrolidines and 2,5-dialkyl-pyrroline (Jones et al 1982;Lange et al 1989). Both classes are insecticidal and common in Monomorium ants (Bacos et al 1988;Jones et al 1988Jones et al , 1989Jones et al , 2009.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatty Amines from Little Black Ants, Monomorium minimum, and Their Biological Activities Against Red Imported Fire Ants, Solenopsis invicta

Wang

Chen²

2015

J Chem Ecol

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Red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta, are significant invasive pests. Certain native ant species can compete with S. invicta, such as the little black ant, Monomorium minimum. Defensive secretions may contribute to the competition capacity of native ants. The chemistry of ant defensive secretions in the genus Monomorium has been subjected to extensive research. The insecticidal alkaloids, 2,5-dialkyl-pyrrolidines and 2,5-dialkyl-pyrrolines have been reported to dominate the venom of M. minimum. In this study, analysis of defensive secretions of workers and queens of M. minimum revealed two primary amines, decylamine and dodecylamine. Neither amine has been reported previously from natural sources. Toxicity and digging suppression by these two amines against S. invicta were examined. Decylamine had higher toxicity to S. invicta workers than dodecylamine, a quicker knockdown effect, and suppressed the digging behavior of S. invicta workers at lower concentration. However, the amount of fatty amines in an individual ant was not enough to knockdown a fire ant or suppress its digging behavior. These amines most likely work in concert with other components in the chemical defense of M. minimum.

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Venom chemistry of ants in the genusMonomorium

Cited by 55 publications

References 17 publications

Ant community structure on a small Pacific island: only one native species living with the invaders

Ant community structure on a small Pacific island: only one native species living with the invaders

Chemistry of venom alkaloids in someSolenopsis (Diplorhoptrum) species from Puerto Rico

Fatty Amines from Little Black Ants, Monomorium minimum, and Their Biological Activities Against Red Imported Fire Ants, Solenopsis invicta

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