Hernández J V., López H, Jaffe K
Universidad Simón Bolívar, Departamento de Biología de Organismos, Laboratorio de Comportamiento, 1080A, Caracas, Venezuela
J Insect Physiol. 2002 Mar;48(3):287-295. doi: 10.1016/s0022-1910(01)00173-1.
Behavioral tests with field colonies of Atta laevigata were performed in order to identify the source of the odors used in nestmate recognition. We tested the postpharyngeal (PPG) and mandibular glands (MG) as putative organs producing chemical signals for nestmate recognition. Chemical analyses of PPG were also undertaken. With a series of bioassays, we confirmed that nestmate recognition is based on cephalic odors and that these odors come mainly from the mandibular gland secretion. We show chemical evidence that odors from MG are dispersed all over the cuticle. Although odors from PPG elicited colony-specific behavioral responses, the types of behaviors they elicited differed from those of nestmate recognition of whole ants or MG extracts. PPG secretion was characterized by long-chain alkanes and methyl branched alkanes of low volatility, whereas MG contained volatile ketones and alcohols.
为了确定用于识别同巢伙伴的气味来源，我们对光腹切叶蚁野外蚁群进行了行为测试。我们测试了咽后腺（PPG）和下颚腺（MG），将其作为产生识别同巢伙伴化学信号的假定器官。同时也对咽后腺进行了化学分析。通过一系列生物测定，我们证实同巢伙伴识别基于头部气味，且这些气味主要来自下颚腺分泌物。我们提供了化学证据表明下颚腺的气味散布在整个表皮。虽然咽后腺的气味引发了蚁群特异性行为反应，但其引发的行为类型与完整蚂蚁或下颚腺提取物的同巢伙伴识别行为不同。咽后腺分泌物的特征是低挥发性的长链烷烃和甲基支链烷烃，而下颚腺含有挥发性酮类和醇类。
