Chemical and behavioural studies of the trail-following pheromone in the leaf-cutting ant Atta opaciceps, Borgmeier (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

0466296 - ÚOCHB 2017 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Campos, R. S. - Mendonca, A. L. - Cabral Jr, C. R. - Vaníčková, Lucie - do Nascimento, R. R.
Chemical and behavioural studies of the trail-following pheromone in the leaf-cutting ant Atta opaciceps, Borgmeier (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
Journal of Insect Physiology. Roč. 86, Mar (2016), s. 25-31. ISSN 0022-1910. E-ISSN 1879-1611
Institutional support: RVO:61388963
Keywords : venom gland * trail pheromone * two-dimensional gas chromatography * leaf-cutting ants Atta sp.
Subject RIV: ED - Physiology
Impact factor: 2.227, year: 2016

To understand the significance of the trail pheromone used in chemical communication of the leaf cutting ants Atta opaciceps we investigated, under laboratory conditions, the trail-following behaviour of different castes. We observed a clear behavioural discrimination of conspecific venom gland extract of foraging ants from those of other species. Additionally, we determined the pheromone composition of A. opaciceps venom gland secretion using a two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Chemical analyses revealed the presence of three nitrogen-containing compounds, identified as 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine and methyl 4-methylpyrrole-2-carboxylate (M4MPC). Four different bioassays performed with workers from different castes of A. opaciceps suggested that the trail pheromone elicits the trail-following behaviour in conspecifics of all castes, but the foragers respond more strongly to their own pheromone than to that of other castes (gardeners, generalists and soldiers). In addition, A. opaciceps foragers follow the trails made with the venom gland extracts of the unrelated Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus foragers as well as they follow the trails made with their own venom gland extract. M4MPC was identified to be the most abundant and the most behaviourally active component of the venom gland extract of A. opaciceps foragers.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0264634