Mandibular gland chemistry of grass-cutting ants: species, caste, and colony variation
Mandibular gland chemistry of grass-cutting ants: species, caste, and colony variation
The compositions of the alarm pheromones of two species of grass-cutting ant, Atta bisphaerica and A. capiguara, were examined, and caste and colony variations quantified. The pheromones of A. bisphaerica and A. capiguara were remarkably similar and were composed of a complex mixture of volatiles in which 4-methyl-3-heptanone and 2-heptanone were the most abundant compounds. Small but consistent intraspecific differences were found between the worker castes and between individual colonies. The results support the view that alarm pheromones are rarely species specific. The possible importance of intercolony variation is discussed.
leaf-cutting ants, alarm, pheromone, caste, colony, Attu bisphaerica, Atta capiguara, mandibular gland, Formicidae
109-124
Hughes, William O.H.
6211f729-76e4-4c9a-a846-0a84cdd66472
Howse, Philip E.
515cf7d5-ad17-4130-86cd-3ba7f53cd022
Goulson, Dave
50da43d9-00ee-46c3-8107-fa8c67f7f4b5
January 2001
Hughes, William O.H.
6211f729-76e4-4c9a-a846-0a84cdd66472
Howse, Philip E.
515cf7d5-ad17-4130-86cd-3ba7f53cd022
Goulson, Dave
50da43d9-00ee-46c3-8107-fa8c67f7f4b5
Hughes, William O.H., Howse, Philip E. and Goulson, Dave
(2001)
Mandibular gland chemistry of grass-cutting ants: species, caste, and colony variation.
Journal of Chemical Ecology, 27 (1), .
(doi:10.1023/A:1005624101743).
Abstract
The compositions of the alarm pheromones of two species of grass-cutting ant, Atta bisphaerica and A. capiguara, were examined, and caste and colony variations quantified. The pheromones of A. bisphaerica and A. capiguara were remarkably similar and were composed of a complex mixture of volatiles in which 4-methyl-3-heptanone and 2-heptanone were the most abundant compounds. Small but consistent intraspecific differences were found between the worker castes and between individual colonies. The results support the view that alarm pheromones are rarely species specific. The possible importance of intercolony variation is discussed.
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Published date: January 2001
Keywords:
leaf-cutting ants, alarm, pheromone, caste, colony, Attu bisphaerica, Atta capiguara, mandibular gland, Formicidae
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 57707
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/57707
ISSN: 0098-0331
PURE UUID: 13cc03c0-d0fd-4a1f-9b6a-14cc95f8c55a
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Date deposited: 11 Aug 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 11:08
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Author:
William O.H. Hughes
Author:
Philip E. Howse
Author:
Dave Goulson
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