Chemical heterogeneity of soldier defensive secretions in the desert subterranean termite, Amitermes wheeleri

Soldier defensive secretions were analyzed by GC/MS in eight spatially separated groups of Amitermes wheeleri collected in Arizona and California. Eleven sesquiterpenoids, four of known structure, were isolated. Quantitative and qualitative differences among the groups of termites were extensive; composition of the defensive secretions among colonies varied from one to six components. Intraspecific differences between pairs of sympatric colonies at six sites were much less pronounced. The variability found in A. wheeleri suggests that soldier defensive secretions in the genus Amiterines are not reliable markers for interspecific systematic comparisons.