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Isolation of the trail recruitment pheromone ofSolenopsis invicta

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Abstract

TheSolenopsis invicta trail pheromone is synthesized by the Dufour's gland and is released through the sting apparatus. The recruitment subcategory of theS. invicta trail pheromone was shown to be composed of a mixture of the orientation pheromone, (Z,E)-α-farnesene and an unidentified homosesquiterpene consisting of three rings and one double bond (C-1). C-1 is present in worker Dufour's glands at only 75 pg per worker equivalent. This is the first report that demonstrates that different exocrine products from the same gland control different subcategories of behavior related to mass recruitment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Insects Affecting Man and Animals Research Laboratory United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 32604, Gainesville, Florida

    Robert K. Vander Meer & Clifford S. Lofgren

  2. Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, Florida

    Francisco Alvarez

Authors
  1. Robert K. Vander Meer
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  2. Francisco Alvarez
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  3. Clifford S. Lofgren
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Vander Meer, R.K., Alvarez, F. & Lofgren, C.S. Isolation of the trail recruitment pheromone ofSolenopsis invicta . J Chem Ecol 14, 825–838 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01018776

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01018776

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