chemistry of exploding ants, Camponotus SPP. (cylindricus complex)

• Published in: Journal of chemical ecology Vol. 30; no. 8; pp. 1479 - 1492
• Main Authors: Jones, T.H, Clark, D.A, Edwards, A.A, Davidson, D.W, Spande, T.F, Snelling, R.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01-08-2004; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetates - chemistry; Acetophenones - chemistry; Aliphatic hydrocarbons; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Ant Venoms - analysis; Ant Venoms - chemistry; Ants - physiology; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Camponotus cylindricus; chemical composition; chemotaxonomy; Comparative analysis; Dicarboxylic Acids - chemical synthesis; exocrine glands; Exocrine Glands - chemistry; Exocrine Glands - secretion; Formicidae; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic - analysis; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic - chemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Phenols - chemistry; Species Specificity; Submandibular Gland - chemistry; Submandibular Gland - secretion; Terpenes - chemistry; terpenoids; territoriality; Brunei; Taxonomy; Insecta; Chemical compound; Chemotaxonomy; Formicoidea; Mandibular gland; Chemical composition; Aromatic compound; acyclic terpenes; Aculeata; Formicidae; Digestive system; Salivary gland; Componotus spp; Social insect; Camponotus; Terpene; Territorial behavior; Arthropoda; Exocrine gland; Phenols; Hymenoptera; Invertebrata; autothysis; territoriality; polyacetate-derived aromatics
• ISSN: 0098-0331; 1573-1561
• DOI: 10.1023/b:joec.0000042063.01424.28

A detailed comparative analysis of the exocrine chemistry of nine Bruneian Camponotus species in the cylindricus complex is reported. Workers of these species are known to have hypertrophied mandibular glands and release their glandular contents suicidally from the head by rupturing the inter- segmental membrane of the gaster. All of the species produce mixtures of polyacetate-derived aromatics, including hydroxyacetophenones, which display pH-dependent color changes, and aliphatic hydrocarbons and alcohols. In addition, three species contained (6R)-2,6-dimethyl-(2E)-octen-1,8-dioic acid (9) or (3S)-8-hydroxycitro-nellic acid (10a), previously unreported from insects. These compounds were characterized from their spectral data, and confirmed by comparison with synthetic samples. The allomonal role of these compounds is based on numerous field observations, and their chemotaxonomic value is presented.