The dufour gland substances of the workers of Formica fusca and Formica lemani (hymenoptera: formicidae)

Mahmoud Fadl Ali, Athula B. Attygalle, E. David Morgan, Johan P.J. Billen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

1. 1. The Dufour gland secretions of Formica fusca consist mainly of saturated straight and branched chain hydrocarbons (C9-C19), one unsaturated hydrocarbon (C13) and two sesquiterpenoids, farnesene and homofarnesene. 2. 2. In F. lemani, the Dufour gland contains branched, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons (C9-C19) and two farnesenes. 3. 3. The two species were distinguished chiefly by the presence of a relatively large proportion of farnesene in F. fusca, with very little homofarnesene and by contrast, little farnesene but much more homofarnesene in F. lemani. 4. 4. The contents of the Dufour gland can be used as a chemotaxonomic clue to distinguish between the species.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)59-63
Number of pages5
JournalComparative Biochemistry and Physiology -- Part B: Biochemistry and
Volume88
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1987

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