Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nestmate recognition and temporal modulation in the patterns of cuticular hydrocarbons in natural colonies of japanese carpenter antCamponotus japonicus mayr (hymenoptera: formicidae)

  • Published:
Journal of Ethology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Camponotus japonicus workers can discriminate nestmates from alien individuals. In the field, freeze-killed alien workers received significantly more attacks than nestmate carcasses. Gas chromatography (GC) analysis showed that the compositions of cuticular hydrocarbons of foraging workers from different colonies were the same, but the relative proportions of some compounds were colony-specific. These compounds are thus likely to function as colonial signatures. Characterization of the cuticular hydrocarbons by GC for 2 natural colonies at an interval of about 30 days over 4 months revealed that the patterns of cuticular hydrocarbon of foraging workers were not fixed but changed with time. The significant temporal modulation in term of proportions occurred in 5 of the 6 compounds that seemed to be the potential colonial signatures. The biological significance of temporal modulation in colonial signature is also discussed.

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

  • Abe, T. 1973 On the behaviour of the antCamponotus japonicus at the nuptial flight.Kontyu 41: 333–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagnères, A.G., J.L. Clément, M.S. Blum, R.F. Severson, C. Joulie & C. Lange 1990 Cuticular hydrocarbons and defensive compounds ofReticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) andR. santonensis (Feytaud): Polymorphism and chemotaxonomy.J. Chem. Ecol. 16: 3213–3244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagnères, A.G., C. Errard, C. Mulheim, C. Joulie & C. Lange 1991 Induced mimicry of colony odours in ants.J. Chem. Ecol. 17: 1641–1664.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beecher, M.D. 1982 Signature systems and kin recognition.Am. Zool. 22: 477–490.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonavita-Cougourdan, A., J.L. Clément & C. Lange 1987 Nestmate recognition: the role of cuticular hydrocarbons in the antCamponotus vagus Scop.J. Entomol. Sci. 22: 1–10.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bonavita-Cougourdan, A., J.L. Clément & C. Lange 1989 The role of cuticular hydrocarbons in recognition of larvae by workers of the antCamponotus vagus Scop.: Changes in the chemical signature in response to social environment.Sociobiology 16: 49–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonavita-Cougourdan, A., J.L. Clément & C. Lange 1993 Functional subcaste discrimination of foragers and brood-tenders in the antCamponotus vagus Scop. Polymorphism of cuticular hydrocarbon patterns.J. Chem. Ecol. 19(7): 1467–1477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breed, M.D. & B. Bennett 1987 Kin recognition in highly eusocial insects.In: David, J., C. Fletcher & C.D. Michener (eds.)Kin recognition in animals, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, pp. 243–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlin, N.F. & B. Hölldobler 1986 The kin recognition system of carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.) I: Hierarchical cues in small colonies.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 19: 23–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corn, M. 1980 Polymorphism and polyethism in the neotropical antCephalotes atratus (L.).Ins. Soc. 27: 29–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crozier, R.H. 1987 Genetic aspects of kin recognition, models and synthesis.In: David, J., C. Fletcher & C.D. Michener (eds.)Kin recognition in animals, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, pp. 55–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crozier, R.H. & M.W. Dix 1979 Analysis of two genetic models for the innate components of colony odor in social Hymenoptera.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 4: 217–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Errard, C. & J.M. Jallon 1987 An investigation of the development of the chemical factors in ants, intra-society recognition.In: Eder, J. & Rembold, H. (eds.)Chemistry and Biology of Social Insects., (Proceeding of the Tenth International Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects, Munich, 1986). Verlag Peperny, Munich, p. 487.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fielde, A.M. 1903 Artificial mixed nests of ants.Biol. Bull. 6: 320–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fielde, A.M. 1904 Power of recognition among ants.Biol. Bull. 7: 227–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grafen, A. 1990 Do animals really recognize kin?Anim. Behav. 39: 42–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hadley, N.F. 1984 Cuticle: ecological significance.In: Bereiter-Hanhn, J; A.G. Matoltsy & K.S. Richards (eds.)Biology of the Integument, 1, Springer, Berlin pp. 685–693.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, W.D. 1964 The genetical evolution of social behavior, I.J. Theor. Biol. 7: 1–16.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hefetz, A., V. Soroker, C. Vienne, E. Nowbahari & C. Errard 1994 The glandular source and mode of transfer of nestmate recognition cues in ants.In: Lenoir, A., G. Arnold & M. Lepage (eds.)Les Insectes Sociaux. (Proc. XII. Inter. Congr. IUSSI), p. 216.

  • Howard, R.W., C.A. McDaniel, D.R. Nelson, C.J. Blomquist, L.T. Gelbaum & L.H. Zalkow 1982 Cuticular hydrocarbons ofReticulitermes virginicus and their role as potential species and caste recognition cues.J. Chem. Ecol. 8: 1227–1239.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kita, 1991 Division of labor in the incipient colony of the Japanese carpenter ant,Camponotus japonicus.Physiol. Ecol. Jpn. 28: 13–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lebeaux, M.O. 1987 ADDAD V87, Rue Charcot, 75013 Paris.

  • Minitab Inc. 1989 MINITAB V7.0. 3081 Enterprise Drive, State College, PA 16801, USA

  • Morel, L., R.K. Vander Meer & B. K. Lavine 1988 Ontogeny of nestmate recognition cues in the red carpenter ant (Camponotus floridanus): behavioral and chemical evidence for the role of age and social experience.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 22: 175–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nikami, T. & S. Yamane. 1994 Early developments of artificially reared colonies ofCamponotus japonicus Mayr.Jpn. J. Entomol. 62: 175–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowbahari, E., A. Lenoir, J.L. Clément, C. Lange, A.G. Bagnres & C. Joulie 1990 Individual, geographical and experimental variation of cuticular hydrocarbons of the antCataglyphys cursor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): their use in nest and subspecies recognition.Biochem. System. Ecol. 18: 63–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Obin, M.S. 1986 Nestmate recognition cues in laboratory and field colonies ofSolenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Effect of environment and the role of cuticular.J. Chem. Ecol. 12: 1965–1975.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Provost, E, G. Riviere, M. Roux, E.D. Morgan & A.G. Bagnres 1993 Change in the chemical signature of the antLeptothorax lichtensteini Bondroit with time.Ins. Biochem. Molec. Biol. 23: 945–957.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quris, R. 1990 CALMAT V1.29. C.N.R.S./University of Rennes I, Biological Station, 35380 Paimpont.

  • Singer, T.L. & K.E. Espelie 1992 Social wasps use nest paper hydrocarbons for nestmate recognition.Anim. Behav. 44: 63–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vander Meer, R.K., D. Saliwanchik & B. Lavine 1989 Temporal changes in colony cuticular hydrocarbon patterns ofSolenopsis invicta: Implication for nestmate recognition.J. Chem. Ecol. 15: 2115–2125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C.L., J. Wu & G. Xiao 1991 A study on the bionomics and predatory effect ofCamponotus japonicus toDendrolimus punctatus.For. Res. 4: 405–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z.J. & Z.B. Liu 1998 Nest architecture, frequency distribution of head width and daily outside activities rhythm of a carpenter antCamponotus japonicus Mary.Acta Entomol. Sinica 41: 56–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehouse, M.E. A. & K. Jaffe 1995 Nestmate recognition in the leaf-cutting antAtta laevigata.Ins. Soc. 42: 157–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaoka, R. 1990 Chemical approach to understanding interactions among organisms.Physiol. Ecol. Jpn. 27 (Special Number): 31–52.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Laboratory, Faculty of Education, Ibaraki University, 310-8512, Mito, Japan

    Zhibin Liu & Sôichi Yamane

  2. Faculty of Biological Science, Shaanxi Normal University, 710062, Xian, P. R. China

    Zhibin Liu

  3. Department of Mathematics, Shaanxi Normal University, 710062, Xian, P. R. China

    Qingchuan Wang

  4. Chemical Laboratory, Faculty of Education, Ibaraki University, 310-8512, Mito, Japan

    Hiroshi Yamamoto

Authors
  1. Zhibin Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sôichi Yamane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Qingchuan Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hiroshi Yamamoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Liu, Z., Yamane, S., Wang, Q. et al. Nestmate recognition and temporal modulation in the patterns of cuticular hydrocarbons in natural colonies of japanese carpenter antCamponotus japonicus mayr (hymenoptera: formicidae). J Ethol 16, 57–65 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02769283

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02769283

Keywords

Search

Navigation