Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

First identification of a trail pheromone of an army ant (Aenictus species)

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Experientia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Totally blind army ants carry out massive and highly organised foraging raids, apparently guided by chemical stimuli. Until now, this phenomenon has not been closely analysed. The existence of a trail pheromone in a postpygidial gland of anAenictus species has been demonstrated and the substances identified as methyl anthranilate and methyl nicotinate The pheromone consists of two parts: a primer effect, caused by methyl nicotinate, which prepares workers to follow trails, but is not itself followed, and a releaser effect, due to methyl anthranilate, which causes trail-following only in conjunction with the primer substance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hölldober, B., and Wilson, E. O., The Ants. Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg 1990.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. Gotwald, W. H., in: Social Insects, vol. 4, p. 157. Ed. H. R. Hermann. Academic Press, New York 1982.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  3. Schneirla, T. C., and Reyes, A. Y., Anim. Behav.14 (1966) 132.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Billen, J., in: Biology and Evolution of Social Insects, p. 203. Ed. J. Billen. Leuven University Press, Leuven 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Morgan, E. D., in: Chromatography and Isolation of Insect Hormones and Pheromones, p. 259. Eds A. R. McCaffery and I. D. Wilson. Plenum Press, New York 1990.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  6. Bagnères, A. G., Billen, J., and Morgan, E. D., J. chem. Ecol.17 (1991) 1633.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Keegans, S. J., Billen, J., Morgan, E. D., and Gökcen, O. A., J. chem. Ecol.19 (1993) 2705.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Pasteels, J. M., and Verhaeghe, J-C., Insectes soc.21 (1974) 167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Morgan, E. D., and Wadhams, L. J., J. chromat. Sci.10 (1972) 528.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hölldober, B., and Engel, H., Psyche85 (1978) 185.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wilson, E. O., Scient. Am.208 (1963) 100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Vander Meer, R. K., Alvarez, F., and Lofgren, C. S., J. chem. Ecol.14 (1988) 825.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Keele University, ST5 5BG, Keele, Staffordshire, England, UK

    N. J. Oldham, E. D. Morgan & B. Gobin

  2. Zoölogisch Instituut, Katholiek Universiteit, Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium

    J. Billen

Authors
  1. N. J. Oldham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. D. Morgan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. Gobin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Billen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oldham, N.J., Morgan, E.D., Gobin, B. et al. First identification of a trail pheromone of an army ant (Aenictus species). Experientia 50, 763–765 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01919378

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01919378

Key words

Search

Navigation