Dufour gland secretions of Myrmica rugulosa and Myrmica schencki workers

A. B. Attygalle, M. C. Cammaerts, E. D. Morgan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

The chemical composition and behavioural activities of the secretions of the Dufour glands of Myrmica rugulosa and M. schencki have been studied, as part of an extended study on Myrmica ants. Chemically, the Dufour gland of M. rugulosa is filled with a mixture of hydrocarbons dominated by straight chain alkanes and alkenes with 13 to 19 carbon atoms, as found in M. rubra. Significant quantities of (Z,E)-α-farnesene and its homologues, homofarnesene and bishomofarnesene, are also present. In M. schencki, the major compounds present are homofarnesene and bishomofarnesene. In both species, the very volatile portion of the Dufour gland secretion is identical to that analysed in M. rubra. From an ethological point of view, this very volatile part is efficient in attracting workers at a distance (6 to 8 cm) and in decreasing their wandering movements. No specificity was observed when performing cross-tests with Dufour glands freshly isolated from workers of other Myrmica species, but obvious specificities were detected when testing the less volatile part of the Dufour glands' contents, known to be used for marking newly discovered areas.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-32
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Insect Physiology
Volume29
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1983

Keywords

  • Ants
  • Dufour gland
  • M. rugulosa
  • M. schencki
  • Myrmica
  • farnesene
  • hydrocarbons
  • territorial marking

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