Abstract
Geranyllinalool is an insecticidal component of pine wood and of the defensive secretion ofReticulitermes species. Lethal doses (LD50) were calculated for termites and various ant species. Termite workers were very resistant (10,000 ppm). Ant resistance varies among species according to their trophic strategy and attack mode. The geranyllinalool acts as a natural insecticide against some ant predators (LD50=6 ppm), which use raid or chemical crypsis to invade termite nests. In contrast, predators laying the venom on the cuticle of their termite prey were very resistant (10,000 ppm). Generally, ants acting as space competitors could detoxify the quantity emitted by one termite soldier (18 ppm).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.References
Baker, R., Parton, A.H., andHowse, P.E. 1982. Identification of an acyclic diterpene alcohol in the defense secretion of soldiers ofReticulitermes lucifligus.Experientia 38:297–298.
Bagnères, A.G. 1989. Les hydrocarbures cuticulaires des insectes sociaux. Thèse de l'Université Paris VI. 150 pp.
Blake, S. 1941. Ants preying on termites.Entomol. News 52:38.
Blum, M.S. 1981. Chemical Defense of Arthropods. Academic Press, New York. 562 pp.
Bohlmann, F., andSuwita, A. 1979. Further phloroglucinol derivatives fromHelichrysum species.Phytochemistry 18(12):2046–2049.
Bohlmann, F., Zdero, C., andManiruddin, A. 1982. New sesquiterpene lactones, geranyllinalool derivatives and other constituents fromGeigeria species.Phytochemistry 21(7): 1679–1691.
Clément, J.L. 1977. Ecologie desReticulitermes (Holmgren) français (Isoptères). Position systématique des populations.Bull. Soc. Zool. Fr. 102(2): 169–185.
Clément, J.L. 1978. L'agression inter-et intra-spécifique des espèces françaises deReticulitermes.C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris 286:351–354.
Clément, J.L., andLange, C. 1984. Variation of epicuticular compounds and inter- and intra-specific aggressive behavior in termites species of the genusReticulitermes, p. 447,in C.R. XVIIth International Congress of Entomology, Hamburg.
Coles de Negret, H.R., andHowse, P.E. 1983. Chemical defense in termites. Ecological aspects, p. 21–29,in Social Insects in the Tropics, Vol. 2. P. Jaisson, ed., Paris.
Evans, D.A.,Baker, R.,Briner, P.H., andMcDowell, P.G. 1977. Defensive secretions of some african termites, p. 46–47,in Proceedings, VIIIth International Congress of Entomology, Wageningen.
Guille-Escuret, G. 1981. Contribution à la sociologie du genreReticulitermes en Charente maritime. Thèse de l'Université Paris VI. 165 pp.
Howard, R.W. 1982. Chemical ecology and biochemistry of insects hydrocarbons.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 27:149–172.
Howard, R.W., McDaniel, C.A., andBlomquist, G.J., 1978. Cuticular hydrocarbons of the eastern subterranean termite,Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 4(2):233–245.
Howard, R.W., McDaniel, C.A., Nelson, D.R., Blomquist, G.J., Gelbaum, L.T., andZalkow, L.H. 1982. Cuticular hydrocarbons ofReticulitermes virginicus (Banks) and their role as potential species and caste recognition cuesJ. Chem. Ecol. 8(9):1227–1239.
Howse, P.E. 1975. Chemical defense of ants, termites and other insects: Some outstanding questions, pp. 23–29,in Pheromones and Defensive Secretions in Social Insects. Symposium IUSSI, Dijon.
Hrdy, I.,Krecek, J., andVrkoc J. 1977. Biological activity of soldiers secretions in the termitesNasutitermes rippertii, Nasutitermes castales andProrhinotermes simplex, pp. 303–304,in VIIIth International Congress of Entomology, Wageningen.
Juettner, F., andBogenschuetz, D. 1983. Geranyl derivatives as inhibitors of the carotenogenesis in Synechoccus PCC-6911 cyanobacteria.Z. Naturforsch. C Biosci. 38(5–6):387–392.
Lemaire, M. 1982. Polymorphisme et role des substances défensives desReticulitermes français. Mémoire de DEA, Université Paris VI. 60 pp.
Lemaire, M. 1985. Stratégies offensives des fourmis vis-à vis des termites: Mécanismes de défense desReticulitermes européens (Isoptera).Actes Coll. Ins. Soc. 2:229–233.
Lemaire, M. 1990. Thèse de l'Université Paris VI.
Longhurst, 1978. Prédation byMegaponera foetens on termites in the Nigerian southern Curinea Savana.Oecologia 32:101–108.
Mathur, 1962. Enemies of termites, pp. 137–139,in Proceedings, International Symposium on termites in Humid Tropics, Section 4.
Mill, A.E. 1983. Behavioral and toxic effects of termite defensive secretions on ants.Physiol. Entomol. 8:413–418.
Moreteau, B., Chaminade, N. 1983. Effets de quatre insecticides de contact (Lindane, Fenthion, Baygon, Deltametrine) sur la glycémie et la tréhalosémie au cours du dermier stade larvaire deLocusta migratoria.Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 19(4):433–439.
Nagnan, P. 1988. Le rôle des terpènes du bois dans les relations entre les termites du genreReticulitermes (Isoptera) et leur plante-hôte en Saintonge,Pinus pinaster. Thèse de l'Université Paris VII. 191 pp.
Nagnan, P. 1990. Terpenes from the Maritime pinePinus pinaster Ait.: Toxins for the subterranean termites of the genus Reticulitermes.Biochem. Syst. Ecol. In press.
Parton, A.H., Howse, P.E., Baker, R., andClement, J.L. 1981. Variation in the chemistry of the frontal gland secretion of EuropeanReticulitermes species, pp. 193–209,in P.E. Howse and J.L. Clément (eds.). Biosystematics of Social Insects. Academic Press, London.
Prestwich, G.D. 1973. Chemical defense by termite soldiers.J. Chem. Ecol. 5(3):459–480.
Prestwich, G.D. 1984. Defense mechanisms of termites.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 29:201–232.
Ruediger, W., Benz, J., andGuthoff, C. 1980. Detection and partial characterization of activity of chlorophyll synthetase in etioplast membranes.Eur. J. Biochem. 109(1): 193–200.
Schmidt, E.N., andPentegova, V.A. 1977. Diterpenoids fromPicea koraiensis, P. glehuii andP. excelsa resinis.Khim. Prir. Soedin. 5:653–657.
Sheppe, W. 1970. Invertebrate predation on termites.Insect Soc. 17:205–218.
Sjöstedt, A. 1907. Wissenschaft Ergeben der Schwed. Zool. Exped. nach dem Kilimandjaro, dem Meru und dem umgebenden. Massaisteppen Deutsch Ostafrica.Schwed. Akad. Win. Uppain 3(15):1–28.
Spanton, S.G., andPrestwich, G.D. 1981. Chemical self-defense by termite workers: Prevention of autotoxication in two Rhinotermitidae.Science 214:1363–1365.
Spanton, S.G., andPrestwich, G.D. 1982. Chemical defense and self-defense: Biochemical transformations of contact insecticides produced by soldier termites.Tetrahedron 38:1921–1930.
Thorne, B.L. 1982. Termite-termite interactions: Workers as an agonistic caste.Psyche 89(1–2):133–150.
Verzele, M., Maes, G., Vuye, A. Godefroot, M., Van Alboom, M., Vervisch, J., andSandra, P. 1981. Chromatographic investigation of Jasmin absolutes.J. Chromatogr. 205(2):367–386.
Weber, J. 1949. New ponerine ants from equatorial Africa.Am. Mus. Novit. 1398:1–9.
Weber, J. 1964. Termite prey of some African ants.Entomol. News 75:197–204.
Wheeler, W. N. 1936. Ecological relations of ponerine and other ants to termites.Proc. Am. Acad. Arts Sci. 71:159–243.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lemaire, M., Nagnan, P., Clement, J.L. et al. Geranyllinalool (Diterpene Alcohol). J Chem Ecol 16, 2067–2079 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01020517
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01020517