Comparative analysis of alarm pheromones in the ant genus Crematogaster

1. 1. The alarm pheromones of species in five subgenera of Crematogaster from diverse parts of the world were investigated. The com- pounds 3-octanone, 3-octanol, 6-methyl-3-octanone, 6-methyl-3-octanol and 3-nonanone were found to be almost universally present in the Crematogaster spp. 2. 2. 2-Hept...

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Published inComparative biochemistry and physiology. B, Comparative biochemistry Vol. 43; no. 3; pp. 703 - 716
Main Authors Crewe, R.M., Blum, M.S., Collingwood, C.A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier Inc 01.11.1972
Subjects
2-hexenal
3-octanone
Alarm pheromones
ants
Crematogaster
mandibular glands
Alarm pheromones
ants
3-octanone
2-hexenal
Crematogaster
mandibular glands
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Summary:1. 1. The alarm pheromones of species in five subgenera of Crematogaster from diverse parts of the world were investigated. The com- pounds 3-octanone, 3-octanol, 6-methyl-3-octanone, 6-methyl-3-octanol and 3-nonanone were found to be almost universally present in the Crematogaster spp. 2. 2. 2-Heptanone was identified in one species, and a number of species in the subgenus Atopogyne were found to produce trans-2-hexenal and trans- 2-hexenol in addition to the compounds listed above. 3. 3. The proportions in which these compounds are mixed in order to obtain an individual alarm pheromone, seem to supply a certain degree of subgeneric and specific specificity to the mandibular gland secretions. The composition of the alarm pheromone mixture was found to be remarkably constant throughout the range of the genus.
ISSN:0305-0491
DOI:10.1016/0305-0491(72)90155-1