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Odour similarities between the slave-keeping ants Formica sanguinea and Polyergus rufescens and their slaves Formica fusca and Formica rufibarbis

1968; Elsevier BV; Volume: 14; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0022-1910(68)90009-7

1879-1611

Günnar Bergström, Jan Löfqvist,

Insect and Pesticide Research

The volatile compounds of degassed gasters have been identified in four formicine ants; the slave-keeper Formica sanguinea Latr., its slaves Formica fusca L. and Formica rufibarbis F., and the slave-keeper Polyergus rufescens (Latr.), which keeps the same species as slaves as does F. sanguinea. We have mainly investigated the worker ants, but in F. sanguinea also females and males have been analysed. All substances found in the gasters of workers of F. sanguinea and F. rufibarbis have proved to be secreted by Dufour's gland. Most probably also all compounds identified in F. fusca and P. rufescens emanate from this gland. Besides aliphatic hydrocarbons of varying chain length, the volatile constituents of the secretion of Dufour's gland from females and workers of F. sanguinea are shown to be n-decyl-, n-undecyl-, and n-dodecylacetate. The corresponding alcohols occur as minor components. Moreover, one isomer of farnesene is found. In F. fusca we have identified the same farnesene isomer and eight aliphatic hydrocarbons. The ther slave-species, F. rufibarbis, is shown to secrete the same acetates as F. sanguinea, plus 2-tridecanone and eight aliphatic hydrocarbons. In P. rufescens we have identified the main component as being the same farnesene isomer as previously found in F. sanguinea and F. fusca. We have also found two aliphatic hydrocarbons, whereas two smaller peaks in the gas chromatogram still remain unidentified. The volatile compounds from single gasters of worker ants of F. sanguinea have also been analysed and considerable quantitative variations were found in the components of different specimens.