Ethological studies of the mandibular gland secretion of the ant Manica rubida (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Marie Claire Cammaerts, Athula B. Attygalle, Otto Vostrowsky, Hans Jürgen Bestmann

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3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The movement reactions of Manica rubida workers to their own mandibular glands, and the compounds present in the gland, were analysed. Compared to control stimuli, more ants reach and surround crushed heads of conspecific workers when presented on foraging areas. Also, the workers spend more time near crushed heads; they are attracted by the mandibular gland volatiles, and are then induced to walk more quickly and a little more sinuously. Manicone, the main constituent in the gland, releases similar but stronger aggregating, loco-stimulating and attractive effects. Homonanicone, the second major component, elicits some arresting effects, and acts together with manicone to produce the entire ethological activity investigated in this study. On the other hand, workers react to 4-methyl-3-hexanone and to 4-methyl-3-heptanone as to alien products. They are rather confused when perceiving normanicone. Thus, the last three substances do not appear to play a significant role in realising the ethological effects observed in this study.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)347-350
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Insect Physiology
Volume34
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988

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