The mandibular gland secretion of the ant, Myrmica scabrinodis |
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| Authors: | E D MORGAN M R INWOOD M-C CAMMAERTS |
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| Institution: | Department of Chemistry, University of Keele, Keele, Staffordshire, England;*Laboratoire de Biologie Animale et Cellulaire, UniversitéLibre de Bruxelles, Belgium |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT. The volatile secretion of the mandibular gland of the common elbowed red ant, Myrmica scabrinodis Nyl., is shown to consist of ethanal, ethanol, acetone, 3-hexanone, 3-hexanol, 3-heptanone, 3-heptanol, 3-octanone, 3-octanol, 6-methyl-3-octanone, 6-methyl-3-octanol, 3-nonanone, 3-nonanol, 3-decanone and 3-undecanone. The electroantennographic response to the major components was recorded and compared with some related compounds. Behavioural tests were carried out on the major constituents, showing that 3-octanol is an attractant for workers, that 3-octanone increases the effect of 3-octanol, and 3-nonanone augments the linear speed of the ants. |
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