Change of Dufour gland contents with age of workers of Formica sanguinea (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

MAHMOUD FADL ALI, ATHULA B. ATTYGALLE, JOHAN P.J. BILLEN, BRIAN D. JACKSON, E. DAVID MORGAN

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Dufour glands of newly emerged adult workers of F.sanguinea Latr. are almost empty, but the gland fills slowly over several months. The amount and composition of the secretion varies between individuals but the mean values change with age, the composition reaching its final value only in old foraging workers. Undecane is the major component for most of the period, but its proportion decreases with age. The amount of (Z,E)‐α‐farnesene increases with age and finally becomes the major component. The change in composition may reflect changes in worker function.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)249-255
Number of pages7
JournalPhysiological Entomology
Volume13
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1988

Keywords

  • Dufour gland
  • Formica sanguinea
  • farnesene.
  • young workers

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