TY - JOUR
T1 - Complex chemical communication in the crazy ant Paratrechina longicornis Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
AU - Witte, Volker
AU - Attygalle, Athula B.
AU - Meinwald, Jerrold
PY - 2007/3
Y1 - 2007/3
N2 - The formicine ant Paratrechina longicornis is known for its extremely opportunistic foraging behaviour. Only a single trail pheromone source, the rectum, was previously described from this ant. Our detailed examination of this ant's chemical communication system revealed the presence of at least four sources of pheromones. Rectum, poison sac, and Dufour gland contain orientation components with decreasing effectiveness and persistence (in the sequence mentioned) as well as attractants with increasing effectiveness. Furthermore, the mandibular gland contains repellents, and a releaser of defensive behaviour. This set of various signals of different strength and persistence allows an extraordinary degree of flexibility and efficiency in the collective behaviour of P. longicornis, especially food exploitation, and thus may contribute to this insect's overall ecological success.
AB - The formicine ant Paratrechina longicornis is known for its extremely opportunistic foraging behaviour. Only a single trail pheromone source, the rectum, was previously described from this ant. Our detailed examination of this ant's chemical communication system revealed the presence of at least four sources of pheromones. Rectum, poison sac, and Dufour gland contain orientation components with decreasing effectiveness and persistence (in the sequence mentioned) as well as attractants with increasing effectiveness. Furthermore, the mandibular gland contains repellents, and a releaser of defensive behaviour. This set of various signals of different strength and persistence allows an extraordinary degree of flexibility and efficiency in the collective behaviour of P. longicornis, especially food exploitation, and thus may contribute to this insect's overall ecological success.
KW - Alarm
KW - Chemical communication
KW - Paratrechina longicornis
KW - Trail pheromones
KW - Tramp ant
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U2 - 10.1007/s00049-006-0364-6
DO - 10.1007/s00049-006-0364-6
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33847280305
SN - 0937-7409
VL - 17
SP - 57
EP - 62
JO - Chemoecology
JF - Chemoecology
IS - 1
ER -