TY - JOUR
T1 - Oily substances from gastral intersegmental glands of the ant Pachycondyla tridenta (Ponerinae)
T2 - Lack of pheromone function in tandem running and antibiotic effects but further evidence for lubricative function
AU - Attygalle, Athlua B.
AU - Jessen, Karla
AU - Bestmann, Hans Jürgen
AU - Buschinger, Alfred
AU - Maschwitz, Ulrich
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - Gas chromatographic analyses of volatizable material from gaster intersegmental complex glands of P. tridentata revealed the presence of linoleic acid, palmitic acid, methyl oleate, and several long-chain hydrocarbons as major constituents, which form an oily fluid mixture. The nest relocation communication of P. tridentata is tandem running. Tandem following is mediated by pheromones as demonstrated by dummy experiments with isolated gasters and thoraces and with glass balls. The secretions of all gaster complex glands, as well as hind gut contents and metapleural gland secretions, were unable to evoke tandem following. Morphology and position of the glands, lack of pheromonal function, oily properties, low volatility, and lack of antibiotic effects of these secretions strongly suggest a function as lubricants for the ants' gastral segments.
AB - Gas chromatographic analyses of volatizable material from gaster intersegmental complex glands of P. tridentata revealed the presence of linoleic acid, palmitic acid, methyl oleate, and several long-chain hydrocarbons as major constituents, which form an oily fluid mixture. The nest relocation communication of P. tridentata is tandem running. Tandem following is mediated by pheromones as demonstrated by dummy experiments with isolated gasters and thoraces and with glass balls. The secretions of all gaster complex glands, as well as hind gut contents and metapleural gland secretions, were unable to evoke tandem following. Morphology and position of the glands, lack of pheromonal function, oily properties, low volatility, and lack of antibiotic effects of these secretions strongly suggest a function as lubricants for the ants' gastral segments.
KW - Formicidae
KW - Gaster intersegmental glands
KW - Hymenoptera
KW - Lubricants
KW - Pachycondyla tridentata
KW - Secretion
KW - Tandem running
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U2 - 10.1007/BF01240632
DO - 10.1007/BF01240632
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:2442679727
SN - 0937-7409
VL - 7
SP - 8
EP - 12
JO - Chemoecology
JF - Chemoecology
IS - 1
ER -