Trail-following in termites: evidence for a multicomponent system [Pheromones, Isoptera, Africa]
Several African termite species from different subfamilies and different habitats are sensitive to trail-active extracts or to naturally laid trails from other species. Using single-extract bioassays, it is shown that the response threshold for trail-following is nearly identical for all tested spec...
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| Published in | Journal of chemical ecology Vol. 8; no. 9; p. 1193 |
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| Main Authors | , , |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
United States
01.09.1982
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| Online Access | Get more information |
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| Summary: | Several African termite species from different subfamilies and different habitats are sensitive to trail-active extracts or to naturally laid trails from other species. Using single-extract bioassays, it is shown that the response threshold for trail-following is nearly identical for all tested species (except forHodotermes mossambicus). However, when termite workers have a choice between trails from their own species and from other species, conspecific trail-following is exclusively observed. This phenomenon can be counteracted by dilution (1∶10) of the conspecific trail-pheromone extract. Tests of the trail activity of various synthetic alcohols show that among these, the highest sensitivity of termite workers is to (Z)-3-dodecen-1-ol. Based on our experimental data, we postulate that, in addition to a generally active trail-pheromone constituent (an unsaturated primary C12 alcohol) or a pool of chemically closely related alcohols, other species-specific components are present in termite trails. |
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| Bibliography: | H10 8249943 |
| ISSN: | 0098-0331 1573-1561 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/BF00990752 |