Allomones are communication compounds that function in interspecific communication. They fall within the broad classes of chemical signals referred to as allelochemicals or allelomones. On contact with an individual of another species, an allomone evokes a behavioral and/or a physiological response in the receiver [167,168,6]. Allomones are of benefit to the releaser, usually to the detriment of the receiver. However, in some cases, they may also benefit the receiver by forestalling a poisoning or other deleterious result.
Different types of behaviors are mediated by allomones. Key among these are their roles as defensive secretions against predators or other natural enemies, such as the formic acid sprayed by formicine ants and the venom from many social wasps, social bees, and ants.
A classic example representing the reverse of protection by a host using allomones is seen in the obligate bumble-bee social parasite Bombus norvegicus. Females of B. norvegicususes dodecyl acetate...
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Brushini, C., & Cervo, R. (2011). Venom volatiles of the paper wasp social parasite Polistes sulcifer elicit intra-colonial aggression on the nest of the host species Polistes dominulus. Insectes Socaiux, 58, 383–390.
Crewe, R. M., & Fletcher, D. J. C. (1973). Ponerine ants secretions: The mandibular gland secretions of Paltothyreus tarsatus Fabr. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa, 37, 291–298.
Hölldobler, B. (1971). Communication between ants and their guests. Scientific American, 22, 86–95.
Mahmoud, F. A., & Morgan, E. D. (1990). Chemical communication in insect communities: A guide to insect pheromones with special emphasis on social insects. Biological Reviews, 65, 227–247.
Nordlund, D. A. (1981). Semiochemicals: A review of the terminology. In D. A. Nordlund et al. (Eds.), Semiochemicals their role in pest control (p. 17). New York: Wiley.
Nordlund, D. A., & Lewis, W. J. (1976). Terminology of chemical releasing stimuli in intraspecific and interspecific interactions. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2, 211–220.
Schmidt, J. O. (2009). Defensive behavior. In H. R. Vincent & T. C. Ring (Eds.), Encyclopedia of insects (2nd ed.). London: Elsevier. pp 255.
Weaver, E. C., Clarke, E. T., & Weaver, N. (1975). Attractiveness of an assassin bug to stingless bees. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 48, 17–18.
Zimma, B. O., Ayasse, M., Tengö, J., Ibarra, F., Schulz, C., & Francke, W. (2003). Do social parasitic bumblebess use chemical weapons? Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 198, 769–775.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Yusuf, A.A. (2021). Allomones in Social Insects. In: Starr, C.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Social Insects. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28102-1_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28102-1_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-28101-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-28102-1
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences