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Chemical composition of the intramandibular glands of the ant Neoponera villosa (Fabricius, 1804) (Hymenoptera: Ponerinae)

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Abstract

Products of exocrine glands modulate the behavior of social in sects. Among the exocrine glands, the function of intramandibular glands has not been well characterized in social Hymenoptera. To study the effects of exocrine gland secretions on the behavior of the ant, Neoponera villosa, identification of cuticular and intramandibular gland compounds was performed. Fifteen different compounds were identified in workers and queens of N. villosa. Linear alkanes C26, C27, C28, C30 and C36, as well as the methyl alkanes 13-, 11- MeC28, 3 MeC29, 13-, 11- MeC32, 13-, 11- MeC33, 13- MeC36, 13,17-; 15,19-DiMeC37 and 18-, 17-, 13-MeC38 and esters triacontyl acetate were found on the body and mandible surface of both workers and queens. The sterols, cholesterol and sitosterol were found only in the mandibles, with cholesterol present in both workers and queens, and sitosterol present only in queens. The results suggest that intramandibular gland compounds of N. villosa may play a role in worker activity. The presence of hydrocarbons and cholesterol in workers and sitosterol in the mandible of queens may be associated with caste profile.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Brazilian research agencies Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), Minas Gerais State Research Agency (FAPEMIG), National Council of Research (CNPq), National Program for Excellence (PRONEX SECTI-FAPESB/CNPq—PNX 0011/2009), São Paulo State Research Agency (FAPESP 2010/10027-5) and National Institute of Science and Technology of Semiochemicals in Agriculture (INCT). Authors are grateful to Mr. José Raimundo Maia and Mr. José Adade for their assistance in the ant collection (Laboratory of Myrmecology the Cocoa Research Center, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs s/n-Campus Universitário-MG, Viçosa, MG, 36570-000, Brazil

    Luiza Carla Barbosa Martins & José Eduardo Serrão

  2. Departamento de Biologia da Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 3900, Brazil

    Fabio Santos Do Nascimento & Maria Cláudia Guidetti Campos

  3. Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36570–000, Brazil

    Eraldo Rodrigues Lima & José Cola Zanuncio

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  1. Luiza Carla Barbosa Martins
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  2. Fabio Santos Do Nascimento
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  3. Maria Cláudia Guidetti Campos
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Correspondence to José Eduardo Serrão.

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Martins, L.C.B., Do Nascimento, F.S., Campos, M.C.G. et al. Chemical composition of the intramandibular glands of the ant Neoponera villosa (Fabricius, 1804) (Hymenoptera: Ponerinae). Chemoecology 25, 25–31 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-014-0172-3

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